An interesting and easy painting technique to try. I challenge you to make a painting, post it on your blog or social media, and add a link below in the comments. Maybe I’ll do it too.
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Note from Andrea: I goofed. This article was supposed to appear tomorrow, but when I turned on my computer today, I forgot what day it was; I thought it was Friday instead of Thursday and I expected to see Creative Juice up on my blog–so I went to my future-scheduled posts and edited this to publish immediately, and it wasn’t until afterward that I realized my mistake. So, I’m sorry–I’ve got nothing for tomorrow; I jumped the gun today.
Why not spend an hour exploring these 12 wonderful articles?
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) was a French Post-Impressionist painter. He is credited with having influenced the transition from impressionism to early 20th century cubism.
The Artist’s Father, Reading “L’Événement” (1866) by Paul Cézanne
Paul’s father was a very successful banker who hoped his son would follow in his footsteps. He sent him to law school, but Paul was more enthusiastic about poetry and art. Paul’s friend Émile Zola invited him to come to Paris, which he did in 1861, planning to study. He applied to the famous École des Beaux Arts, but was turned down, so he attended the Académie Suisse, where he met Camille Pissarro, who became his mentor. He also became acquainted with Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. He often spent time in the Louvre, where he copied works of masters such as Michelangelo, Rubens, and Titian.
Madame Cézanne in a Red Dress (1888-1890) by Paul Cézanne
In 1869, Cézanne met Marie-Hortense Fiquet. They had a son, Paul, in 1872, but did not marry until much later. Cézanne kept their relationship a secret from his father, who gave him a monthly allowance that Paul was afraid he’d withhold if he knew the truth. His fear was well-founded, because when his father found out about his mistress and illegitimate child in 1878, he cut his allowance in half, sending him into great financial difficulty. (Six months later, he increased the allowance substantially.)
Portrait of Ambroise Vollard (1899) by Paul Cézanne
When Cézanne finally married Marie-Hortense in 1886, it was to legitimize their son Paul; Cézanne and Fiquet’s relationship had deteriorated long before. Cézanne was socially awkward, shy, moody, irritable, and prone to depression; at least two of his good friends called him “strange.” Yet, Marie-Hortense was his most frequent model for portraits, not that any of them were particularly flattering.
Portrait of Victor Chocquet (1876-1877) by Paul Cézanne
Young Italian Woman at a Table (1894-1900) by Paul Cézanne. This is my favorite of his portraits. It seems to me that he really tried to make her beautiful.
Cézanne bucked Paris’ strict standards for art; he’d not been admitted to the École des Beaux Arts despite applying twice; both the Salon de Paris and the Salon des Refusés refused to display his paintings. He was having very limited success, but he insisted on developing his own style. Pissarro instructed him in impressionistic techniques, but Cézanne’s interpretations were not well-received. Influenced by Gustave Courbet and Eugène Delacroix, he abandoned impressionism and pursued an everyday realism that was free of prettiness or customary symbolism.
Montagne Sainte-Victoire (1904) by Paul Cézanne. This is my favorite landscape of his. I love the cubist feel of this.
I particularly like Cézanne’s landscapes and still lives. His portraits have a roughness that I find unpleasant.
Still Life with a Curtain (1895) by Paul Cézanne
Cézanne’s reputation took off around 1895 with the first solo show of his paintings. Other artists, such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Pissarro, purchased his work, and his prices skyrocketed.
Still Life with an Open Drawer (1867–1869) by Paul Cézanne
In 1886, Cézanne’s father died, leaving his estate to Cézanne’s mother and sisters and a large sum of money to Cézanne. His financial problems were over.
Still Life with Cherries and Peaches (1885-1887) by Paul Cézanne
In 1906, Cézanne passed away from pneumonia after suffering hypothermia from being caught in a storm.
Pyramid of Skulls (1901) by Paul Cézanne
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Rembrandt: Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-up Collar, 1659
Rembrandt van Rijn (July 15, 1606—October 4, 1669), known simply as Rembrandt, is considered one of the greatest artists of all time and the most important of the Dutch Masters. His media were drawing, printmaking, and oil painting. He was especially known for his portraits and self-portraits, but he depicted a wide variety of subjects, including landscapes, scenes of daily life, biblical and mythological scenes, historical pieces, and animal studies. Rembrandt was also an art collector and dealer.
His self-portraits, of which there are at least 17, document his skill and aging.
Rembrandt: Self-Portrait in a Cap, with Eyes Wide Open, 1630, etching
Rembrandt: Self-portrait Leaning on Sill, 1639
As a young man, he quickly built a reputation and following for his portraits. His etchings and paintings were popular throughout his lifetime. He acquired wealth, but then experienced tragedies and reversal of fortune.
Rembrandt, The Stoning of St. Stephen, painted when he was 19.
In 1634, Rembrandt married Saskia van Uylenburgh. She served as a model in many of his paintings. They had four children, the first three of whom died very young. Saskia passed away shortly after giving birth to their fourth child, son Titus.
Rembrandt: Portrait of Saskia van Uylenburgh (1612-1642), circa 1633-1634.
Rembrandt’s Biblical themes are marked by profound understanding of the scriptures. The 20th century priest Henri Nouwen was so moved by Rembrandt’s painting The Return of the Prodigal Son that he wrote a book about it and the spiritual insights he gained from studying it.
Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal Son, detail, 1669.
Rembrandt took the then-new process of reproducing images by etching and transformed it into an art form in its own right. Most of his paintings remained in the Netherlands during his lifetime, but his prints circulated throughout Europe and established his reputation on the continent.
Rembrandt: The Night Watch
Rembrandt: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. This painting was stolen from a museum in 1990 and has never been recovered.
Rembrandt: The Mill
Rembrandt: An Old Man in Red
Rembrandt: Girl in a Picture Frame
Rembrandt: Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem
Rembrandt: An Elephant, drawing in black chalk
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Plein air sketching. I have been wanting to do this for years. Maybe someday soon. Those little clamps look very handy.
Do you like to cross stitch? Here are some free patterns. (Click on the titles under each design.)
Unusual trees. Maybe we could sketch these? (If you do, post them on your blog or social media and leave a link in the comments below.)
The Adoration of the Magi. I’ve always loved this painting. One year I sent out Met Christmas cards with a detail from this painting. I never realized it was painted by Hieronymus Bosch.
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