Claude Monet's 'Water Lillies' (1920) and Chuck Closes' 'Maggie' (1998)
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Maggie, (1996), Oil on canvas, 30 x 24" (76.2 x 61 cm), Photograph by Ellen Page Wilson, courtesy of PaceWildenstein, New York, © Chuck Close |
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Self Portrait (1994). Chuck Close. Detail. |
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Water Lillies (1920) Claude Monet |
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Water Lillies (1920) Claude Monet. |
Both Claude Monet and Chuck Close were exploring paint, colour and human perception. Research the work of both artists in order to;
1. Outline the intentions of each artist.
Chuck close has a very interesting style he was world renowned for his amazing ability to paint a portrait and be difficult to see the difference between a photograph and his work which is called hyper realism. His paintings show human perception in different ways he creates an image showing a extremely detailed portrait but gives it a effect as tough looking through multiple window panes to the artist by using a paint blotching motion in different squares. His image is very difficult to see from very close but can be made out without difficulty when seen from a distance so it plays with human perception depending on where you stand.
Claude monet said himself on November 26th 1900 in "Le Temps” newspaper he had a huge appreciation for landscape and the surrounding beauty and wanted to show everone this appreciation so had intentions to recreate some of these landscapes with paint to canvas with the use of light, colour and reflections
2. Describe the techniques of each artist
Chuck close was very well known for his hyper realism but began to change his style of painting to more modern contemporary. His techniques after he changed were to play with human perception. Chuck close takes a photo of a close friend as he does not do portraits of people who are not close to him (http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/13704/chuck-close/)
He then paints in the highlights on a large scaled canvas where he paints in blotches it appears the highlights and warmer colours for the highlights of the taken picture and the same for the slightly darker up close this images appears a ripple of colours blended in patterns but as you step back you can see someone’s face and shoulders.
Claude Monet explores different ways in painting scenery he began in his life to paint using dark colours but after 1860 he ditched this form of work and began to use a palette only having very light colours on it this was used to capture the scenery around him as he was very particular in getting the light just right for his work, (famousartist.com, n.d). Claude Monet was very particular in his paintings he wanted the light to be just right during the day so he could capture the most beautiful scenes in daily life whether it be early morning fogs or evening sunsets. Monet uses quick brush strokes that may not have the extremely refined detail but still easily clear enough to see the objects and scenery through the use of his colours and light.
Find 2 quotes about each artists work, and reference them correctly.
Chuck Close
-“ people have sometimes talked about your attempts to drain expression from the faces of your sitters, particularly when youre taking the Polaroids that you work from.””I dont try to drain all expression out, I just want a very neutral expression. If you have an extreme expressioneither laughing or crying or whateverthen thats the only content that you will get out of it. Whereas if its presented neutrally and flat-footedly, you can read whatever evidence is embedded in their visage” (Robert Ayers and Chuck Close, March 2006 interview)
- As far as my own images go, I am the last person to know whether they are more psychologically loaded than the others. They only differ in the fact that I am posing for myself rather than someone else posing for me. And I use the word posing deliberately. Its a relatively carefully constructed view of myself ( Chuck Close, March 2006 interview)
Claude Monet
he had become such a perfectionist that he refused to paint unless the light of the sun reflected exactly the way he wanted it. In one instance even had a trench dug, and a large canvas mounted on ropes and pulleys, so her could work without having to lose his line of sight. ( famouspainter.com, n.d)
"As for the colors I use, what's so interesting about that ? I don't think one could paint better or more brightly with another palette. The most important thing is to know how to use the colors. Their choice is a matter of habit. In short, I use white lead, cadmium yellow, vermilion, madder, cobalt blue, chrome green. That's all." ( Claude Monet, n.d)
3. Note 3 similarities of the work of both artists.
Both artists generally use a lot of colour throughout their work to portray there images.
Both artist use the same materials except for the photography Chuck close uses like paint and they seem to have a very similar style in the aspects of using blotches of colour rather than very defined areas of light and shadow.
Both artists make people think about human perception and make people look at scenery or people differently in the aspect of more beautiful.
4. What are some differences between the artist's work. (at least 3)
Chuck Close only has painted portraits of people whether it be his extremely realistic portraits or uses his technique of blending colours in different squares, while Claude Monet only paints scenery.
Chuck Close uses a far wider range of colours and even black which Claude Monet does not use black at all.
Chuck close paints people who are close to him or people who are very well known to him and Claude Monet paints an area which he feels epitomises beauty in everyday life ( Famous artist, n.d)
5. Describe your response to the work of both artists.
6. I really like Chuck Closes work I think his ability to recreate an image to the point where you can hardly resemble it from a photograph is incredible but I think the images of collaged colour squares that point out highlight and dark parts on a portrait is something which is very interesting and makes we want to know how he thought of this sort of style because it shows blotches up close but form afar a very distinct portrait of a face. it may appear a abstract type image but when you step back your brain actually creates a image from it. A great example of this is the portrait he did named Detail which is of his eye in glasses but up close its hard to make out what it is.
Claude Monets work appeals to me too as he paints scenes which can be seen every now and then because he is so particular about the light source and were it must come from but he creates beauty from it by painting it when we may take it for granted. One of my favourite paintings by Claude Monet is that of Impression, soleil levant, 1872. I really like this image as it is something which does not have a lot of detail with the scenery because when there is a fog there is not a lot of detail but the use of lights which fades through the fog and creates and creates these warm colours across the sky as well as making the very faded silhouettes help people to see the beauty of claude monets work.
7. Add any other comments you would like.
I think both artists make the viewers think differently about perceiving scenes in everyday life and and not take the natural beauty for granted. Artist both use light as the main influence to their art whether it be blurred to make a highlight on a portrait of a face or in nature itself reflected on water it really makes you think about how beautiful things are. I think both artist not having the defned lines and making them slightly more blurred makes them more appealing as it is a different perception on a scene then the viewer is used to.
