The first painting is an oil on canvas painting called, Water Spaniel Confronting a Heron. It was painted in 1722, by Jean-Baptiste Oudry. In this painting, a fierce heron is confronted by a snarling water spaniel. According to Readable, it is said that the people of this time (the 1700s) might have symbolized a hidden theme in their paintings. Some believe that the people viewed it as a separation between the wildlife and the domesticated life.
Both animals in this painting are created by Mother Nature but are completely different from one another. The water spaniel, a widely known domesticated animal, and the heron, an untamable bird, are put against each other by the artist to reveal what seems to be a rivalry. One is dependent on its owner and the other is independent. These two animals contradict one another, the bird’s freedom belies the dog’s obedience.Overall, it is a beautiful and mysterious piece of art.
The dark colors help to develop the mood. The two polar opposite animals are at the break of combat. It is a very tense moment. The dark background gives the viewer an uneasy feeling, almost foreshadowing what will happen next, which puts the viewer on edge. The suspense of what will happen next is part of what makes this artwork interesting to view.Along with mood, the color scheme allows the viewer to feel as though they are there.
This painting is a representational artwork that gives the viewer an astounding image of the wild v the domesticated. An image of an intense and realistic scene. The color scheme makes the images come alive right before the eyes of the viewer. As though the viewer is watching the battle with their own eyes in person.
Each viewer can decide on what will happen next in their mind, but all viewers see the same image. It is up to the viewer to see who will remain victorious or if there is an interruption in the story. The viewer makes the ending.
Color can produce many different feelings but so can other elements and principles, which leads me to my next example.The placement of each object shows that this painting has an asymmetrical balance. It may not have corresponding parts in shape or size but the artist, Jean-Baptiste Oudry, manipulated the objects to make the painting seem to be symmetrical.
On the right, you will see a small and fluffy dog. On the left, you will see a large bird on the verge of flight. I assume it is attempting to take flight due to the position of the wings. Surrounding the main focus of the painting, the water spaniel and heron, is a small stream of water, vast vegetation, the remaining orange of a sunset, and a dark, cloudy sky. These are all factors that add to the sense of symmetry.
The artist adds objects to each side to show a visually balanced painting. without the plants in the mid right, the bird would not have an object to visually balance the painting. There is clearly an asymmetrical balance in the painting. The color scheme and balance are only two of many elements of art and principles of design chosen by the artist. I chose this painting because it seemed very unusual and pleasing to the eye. The way the image is frozen in motion caught my attention instantly. As I examined this painting much more closely, I noticed the many details that attracted my eye to each corner.
On the top left corner, you can see the dark and cloudy skies. On the top right, you will see a yellowish grey hue. As you follow the yellow you will see the yellow sunset.
On the bottom right, you will see a rocky terrain which leads to a small stream. On the bottom left, you will see many small plants. As another example of detail, on the top of the painting, the viewer will see live vegetation. The tips appear to be brown and yellow in color. I admire the many details the artist chose to add.
It is as though this battle was frozen in time. For example, at the bottom of the painting, the viewer will see a small stream that the dog has its paw in. You can see the ripples of water caused by the touch of the paw, and the small droplets caused from the amount of force that was used in placing the paw. The amount of detail is amazing. However, this was not the only painting that caught my attention.The second painting is an oil on canvas painting called, An Indian Paradise (Green River, Wyoming).
It was painted in 1911, by Thomas Moran. During the 1900s, Impressionism flourished in paintings from Matise to Picasso. According to the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), Thomas Moran had encountered the scene in 1871 and started to develop a personal connection to The Green River Valley.
It is said that Thomas nearly painted the scene nearly forty times, which led to this late example of the landscape that beautifully blends fantasy with reality together. Part of the reason why I chose this painting was the texture.There are different types of texture that are implied in this painting. Implied texture is a technique several artists use to show the viewer texture in their paintings. This technique is used in most landscape paintings. The implied texture can show how soft or rough the painting is. Texture only applies to touch, not the other four senses. For example, the bottom ground has the appearance of having a rough, dry, and dusty texture.
Much like a desert or the playground at my old elementary school. The valley looks as though it is a rocky and hard in texture similar to a special place the “cool kids” would hang out at during recess. The artist painted the water to seem to be clear and clean which gives an implied fresh feel unlike the fountain water at every school in Corsicana. The clouds look as though they are soft and fluffy if one were to touch them which is far from the texture of the mat I slept on during nap time.
The texture is only one of many elements and principles that come together to form the unity in each painting.Unity is the feeling of harmony between all parts of the work of an art piece, which creates a sense of completeness. This describes the painting exactly. Looking at this painting gives the viewer a sense that it is whole. The gorgeous skies to the clear water to the green plants all give a welcoming feeling. The asymmetrical balance from left to right gives a sense of satisfaction. The trees on the left visually balance the rocky valley on the right.
The soft color scheme provides an undeniable peacefulness. The scale is shown at the bottom of the painting. The people who are riding horses are being manifested as tiny compared to the large tree on the far left of the painting.
When not paying attention, someone could easily miss it. But the people are not small, they just appear to be because of the amount of distance between them and the artist. Similar to implied texture, an implied line is another technique often used by artists. Across from the tiny people the land and water form an implied line.Personally, I see this painting as a portal to a world where reality and fantasy are mixed together.
It is a place where someone can escape the cruel reality of our world and join in the fantasy. Every time I examine it, it often reminds me of my childhood due to the fact that this painting looks similar to the landscapes drawn in a movie named Twelve Dancing Princesses. Twelve Dancing Princesses is a Barbie movie that was released in 2006. I would watch all the old Barbie movies with my sister ever since I could comprehend what was happening on the screen. This painting brings back old memories of wonderful bonding moments with my older sister. When I was younger I always found the movies visually interesting because you can never those types of graphics in the movies made recently.
The images never failed to grab my attention and keep it. The beauty of the landscape glows with compassion.Both paintings were made by oil painting.
The process of oil painting is pigments bound in oil. Oil paint could be made by the artist or be purchased in an art supplies store. Different oils allow different drying times and different contrasts. Linseed oil, poppyseed oil, walnut oil, and safflower oil are the most common oils used in this process but there are others. To create an oil painting there are a few main items needed. The following items are required:?Canvas?Easel?Gesso?Palette?Oil Paints?Different sizes of brushes?Palette knife?Paint thinner?Rags or towelsThat is where the similarities end.
One is an intense battle between the domesticated and the wilderness while the other is a glowing paradise. One has two main focuses while the other has one.
