Summer Term week 5

Date: 16th & 17th May

Tutor: Siân

what to bring

Your usual painting materials.

Colour of the Week:Green

Ah, a tricky one. Shouldn’t be though, but it usually is.

Quote of the week

“They’ll sell you thousands of greens. Veronese green and emerald green and cadmium green and any sort of green you like; but that particular green, never.” Pablo Picasso

book of the week

So, not quite a book this week, but some reading matter we would like you to have a look at. Klimt is well known for his commissioned paintings of Viennese society, most famously for his golden portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. Surprisingly recently, given how much art Rob and I have looked at over the years (!) we have only recently discovered his landscapes. Try doing a Google image search for Klimt landscapes. Try this one:

Klimt landscapes.

Stunning, and packed with bright, fresh colour.

The paintings are predominantly green, although this is not what draws the eye. Consider the part the greens play within the overall image. Are they an integral part of the structure of the painting, setting the scene and giving the painting depth? Or are they merely a background, designed to set the opposing reds and oranges alight?

How are the greens painted? Zoom in, and take a closer look. Klimt has mixed many, many different greens. Close inspection reveals that he not only uses greens, but also ‘neat’ blues and yellows, laying the paint down in an almost pointillist style, so the the eye is left to do the mixing. While Klimt uses oil, not watercolour, there is no reason we cannot learn a huge amount about how to use greens from the way he works.

This article by Sotheby's is interesting:

Klimt : Bauerngarten