Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Going to Class!

Studying Henri Matisse


After starting our journal collaboration where we've all chosen
artists for our individual journals, I've rediscovered how rewarding 
it is to learn more about great artists of the past.
Jeanne Oliver's class, "Studying Under the Masters"
came at just the right time!

Henri Matisse "The Lute"
“The whole arrangement of my picture is expressive,” said Matisse. 
“The place occupied by the figures or objects, the empty spaces around them, 
the proportions, everything plays a part.”


Not sure what to do with these little studies . . .
they're around 4 x 6 inches. Cut up for collage?
Postcards? Journal pages? Save in an "inspiration" folder?


Henri Matisse "Seated Odalisque"
Matisse's patterns are almost overwhelming, 
but everything works beautifully together!




Flowing palm-shaped leaves show up often in Matisse's paintings.

Henri Matisse "La Musique"



Henri Matisse "Still Life with Blue Tablecloth"


Since I discovered the paintings that were the inspiration for
these quick watercolor studies, I've come across so many more
of his patterns that I'd love to try painting.

Henri Matisse "Decorative Figure Against an Ornamental Background"

Henri Matisse "Odalisque with Yellow Persian Robe and Anemones"
Awesome!
The blue tablecloth in the painting is based on a textile which is also on display – a nineteenth-century French printed cotton and linen fabric Matisse apparently adored and called (incorrectly) his ‘toile de Jouy’.  The actual fabric consists of a delft blue pattern against a white background, but in the painting, the white is transformed into aqua, enriching the overall harmony. These imaginative transformations of subject matter prove that Matisse was not a realist, but rather an inventor of harmonies that have a tangible yet oblique relationship to reality.  Matisse uses the pattern the way he uses color, to extend his representation of the subject, whether it is still life, figure or interior.  - See more at: http://www.artcritical.com/2005/08/01/matisse-the-fabric-of-dreams-his-art-and-his-textiles/#sthash.uMi3IrLr.dpuf
The blue tablecloth in the painting is based on a textile which is also on display – a nineteenth-century French printed cotton and linen fabric Matisse apparently adored and called (incorrectly) his ‘toile de Jouy’.  The actual fabric consists of a delft blue pattern against a white background, but in the painting, the white is transformed into aqua, enriching the overall harmony. These imaginative transformations of subject matter prove that Matisse was not a realist, but rather an inventor of harmonies that have a tangible yet oblique relationship to reality.  Matisse uses the pattern the way he uses color, to extend his representation of the subject, whether it is still life, figure or interior.  - See more at: http://www.artcritical.com/2005/08/01/matisse-the-fabric-of-dreams-his-art-and-his-textiles/#sthash.uMi3IrLr.dpuf
The blue tablecloth in the painting is based on a textile which is also on display – a nineteenth-century French printed cotton and linen fabric Matisse apparently adored and called (incorrectly) his ‘toile de Jouy’.  The actual fabric consists of a delft blue pattern against a white background, but in the painting, the white is transformed into aqua, enriching the overall harmony. These imaginative transformations of subject matter prove that Matisse was not a realist, but rather an inventor of harmonies that have a tangible yet oblique relationship to reality.  Matisse uses the pattern the way he uses color, to extend his representation of the subject, whether it is still life, figure or interior.  - See more at: http://www.artcritical.com/2005/08/01/matisse-the-fabric-of-dreams-his-art-and-his-textiles/#sthash.uMi3IrLr.dpuf

Signature

3 comments:

  1. I think these are spectacular! I love Matisse and had the pleasure of visiting his museum . Your watercolors are little gems!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I came here to see Matisse and leave a comment and it seems that Matisse was here before me and he left these magnificent cards! SCORE Maggie on the cards! They could have been done by the Master himself!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fabulous Maggie! Wow! I also started this class recently, and marinating in Matisse. Love what you have done. I started another journal to house all of my notes and bits for these classes.
    Taped fabric swatches of patterns in it. Think I may try small pattern cards like you have done to stick in there as well. Big score for me was buying Priti' painting Maria inspired by Matisse.

    ReplyDelete

I always love to hear what you have to say! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!