This was the second session of this virtual library series that I attended, and it was great! First, the presenter, Joyce, gave a talk on modern art and tapping into your inner life using art. We discussed expressing what’s inside yourself, your feelings and emotions and your inner child. Joyce said what you create mimics what’s within.
The first artist we examined was Van Gogh and his famous “Starry Night” painting. In it, he exaggerates emotion and projects his inner turbulence. Then she also pulled up “The Scream,” by Edvard Munch, whose painting was ridiculed at the time for being too dark. Joyce mentioned that artists play with the theme of perception, and that we see everything from our own lens.
We also examined the works of Picasso, Marc Chagall, children’s author and illustrator Faith Ringgold, Frida Kahlo, and Andre Masson. Joyce also mentioned Dali, Roberto Matta and Hilma af Klint, as well as Pollock and Krasner.
Joyce then invited us to pick a technique (such as surrealism, impressionism etc.) and try it out for ourselves.
Below is the drawing I made during the program, and I call it: “Anger.” I made it using the “automatic drawing technique,” where you just let the art flow from your pencil.
Reflection:
I personally love Georgia O’Keefe’s art, specifically her colors, and I plan on getting some art books out of the library so I can look at them more closely as soon as I can. This is my favorite painting of hers:
Michelle’s Bookish Life 