ART DISCUSSION

 Art Discussion

Words.

1.Design

2.Beginners

3.Bethsheda

4.Hogarth

5.Otto Dix

6.Great War

7.Dulwich

8.Gombrich

Looking at art is an inspirational and emotional experience. Talking about art is a launching pad for creativity, collaboration, and cognition. In my opinion, if art vanished tomorrow we would be looking at a vastly different world because the world is made up of nature and art and design.

Below is a list of questions to ask yourself before replying to any of our lessons on painting or if you want to enjoy art. Use this as a guide to talk about art.

1. Why

Why was it painted? Many paintings are done for different reasons. Some are purely that of doing something because you like the subject others can be propaganda as in the Stalinist or Hitler period and others can be a kind of diary of experience as in that of many war artists.

Some can be warnings like the paintings of Otto Dix in The Great War. Others have done solely for prestige as in those of Gainsborough for rich people. Some sole design, for instance, I do lots of paintings just seeing if colours work together and I have no message.

In the case of the Pool of Bethesda by Hogarth, the artist painted it out of jealousy so if you researched this painting you would understand. Anyway just research why something was done and what kind of painting is it?

2. What’s going on in the painting?

Differences of opinion are fine in a beginners class and any interpretation is a way of learning and seeing but the real opinion is maybe that of the artist or the art historian nevertheless my famous art teacher Gombrich told me at university "art is what the viewer sees ". Is that true? Well, he is an internationally known art expert and I'm just your teacher. But anyway try to describe the painting even if you feel you might be wrong do not be afraid just use your own words.

3 Why do you think it was painted

As said before the reason for a painting is important. I just opened an exhibition catalogue of the Eric Ravillious exhibition at Dulwich London ( I always buy the catalogue) and asked my friend why did Eric Ravillious paint this and he said because he liked it and that might seem like a silly answer but its a correct answer.

No one does anything unless they like it or are paid big money but there is another reason and that is a passion for a thing or a person.

4 What historical period.

What was happening then _

If we know about the period we can relate more to the artist, we understand him more and the age he worked in

5, Compare the painting to others painted in the same years

6 Expression and Impression

It does not matter if you know about this painting just express your own thoughts. Opinions by non-experts are like someone talking about fish who has never ever seen a fish in his or her life. Opinions are valueless unless you are an expert but we are in a different situation. We are asking questions and using English so you are permitted an opinion but remember in later life after school only give an opinion if you know about something. It's always better to ask questions.

7. What kind of painting is it

Is it religious, is it erotic, is it propaganda or political but the main thing to decide is one thing and that is even though something seems something it may not be.

8 What technique is used

is it oil or gouache? What about the brushstrokes, the style and the times. Times reflect a style and also countries reflect a style. Three painters can paint the same thing and there will be three different things especially in national style such as a Chinese painter compared to an English one. Gombrich pointed this out one day

1955