Self Portrait Still LifeGood Morning Wildcats! Before you hop away from the screen and start on the project please read through the text provided and when you get to a link be sure to follow it and watch it before proceeding onward. We will begin with Art Vocabulary – some of these terms may be new and some may be a review. I have provided text definitions, image examples, as well as short video clips to further explain and suggest you watch in order. If you want to better remember the terms feel free to write them in a notebook, journal or sketchbook – but they will always be available here/online. ART VOCABULARY – become familiar with these terms: |
A self-portrait is a representation of an artist that is drawn, painted, photographed, or sculpted by that artist. Although self-portraits have been made since the earliest times, it is not until the Early Renaissance in the mid-15th century that artists can be frequently identified depicting themselves as either the main subject, or as important characters in their work. With better and cheaper mirrors, and the advent of the panel portrait, many painters, sculptors and printmakers tried some form of self-portraiture. Portrait of a Man in a Turban by Jan van Eyck of 1433 may well be the earliest known panel self-portrait. |
He painted a separate portrait of his wife, and he belonged to the social group that had begun to commission portraits, already more common among wealthy Netherlanders than south of the Alps. The genre is venerable, but not until the Renaissance, with increased wealth and interest in the individual as a subject, did it become truly popular.
Self Portrait defined giving you all the definitions of popular art terms accompanied with visuals to help you better understand the terms: https://youtu.be/tAXCBPqqBjY
“The Self-Portrait, from Schiele to Beckmann” is a groundbreaking show is unique in its examination and focus on 70 self-portraits by more than 30 artists—both well-known figures and others who deserve greater recognition - in this video, curator Tobias G. Natter brings you through a few highlights in the exhibition: https://youtu.be/tBOlOxu9Qk8
“The Self-Portrait, from Schiele to Beckmann” is a groundbreaking show is unique in its examination and focus on 70 self-portraits by more than 30 artists—both well-known figures and others who deserve greater recognition - in this video, curator Tobias G. Natter brings you through a few highlights in the exhibition: https://youtu.be/tBOlOxu9Qk8
A Still Life (plural: still lifes | from the Dutch, stilleven) is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace/everyday objects which are either:
1. Natural/Organic: food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.
2. Man-made/Artificial: drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.
The Tate Museum Glossary puts it very succinctly, defining the subject of a still life as "anything that does not move or is dead."
In French, the still life is called nature morte, literally "dead nature".
A still life can be realistic or abstract, depending on the particular time and culture in which it was created, and on the particular style of the artist. The still life is a popular genre because the artist has total control over the subject of the painting, the lighting, and the context.
The artist can use the still life symbolically or allegorically to express an idea, or formally to study composition and the elements and principles of art.
ARTICLES
- The History of Still Life Painting https://www.liveabout.com/definition-of-still-life-painting-2577744
- Setting Up a Still Life https://www.liveabout.com/still-life-tips-2578743
VIDEO CLIP
- In The Presence of Things — Four Centuries of Still-life Painting https://youtu.be/sUqdnwtUoA0
- The History of Still Life Painting https://www.liveabout.com/definition-of-still-life-painting-2577744
- Setting Up a Still Life https://www.liveabout.com/still-life-tips-2578743
VIDEO CLIP
- In The Presence of Things — Four Centuries of Still-life Painting https://youtu.be/sUqdnwtUoA0
Composition in the visual arts is the placement or arrangement of the visual elements, such as figures, trees, and so on in a work of art, as distinct from the subject or the style with which it is depicted. It can also be thought of as the organization of the elements of art according to the principles of art.
It is how the elements of art and design:
line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space — are organized
OR
Composed according to the principles of art and design:
balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity/variety — and other elements of composition, to give the painting structure and convey the intent of the artist.
Examples of famous Still Lifes:
Additional information:
Basket of Fruit, painted around 1599, is a still life painting by the Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), which hangs in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan.
Basket of Apples is a still life oil painting by French artist Paul Cézanne. It belongs to the Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Nature Morte Vivante or Living Still-life is a painting by the artist Salvador Dalí. Dali painted this piece in 1956, during a period that he called "Nuclear Mysticism". It currently resides at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
'Still Life: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life' by Harmen Steenwyck is a classic example of a Dutch 'Vanitas' painting. It is essentially a religious works in the guise of a still life. 'Vanitas' paintings caution the viewer to be careful about placing too much importance in the wealth and pleasures of this life, as they could become an obstacle on the path to salvation. The title 'Vanitas' comes from a quotation from the Book of Ecclesiastes 1:2, 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'
Basket of Fruit, painted around 1599, is a still life painting by the Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), which hangs in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan.
Basket of Apples is a still life oil painting by French artist Paul Cézanne. It belongs to the Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Nature Morte Vivante or Living Still-life is a painting by the artist Salvador Dalí. Dali painted this piece in 1956, during a period that he called "Nuclear Mysticism". It currently resides at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
'Still Life: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life' by Harmen Steenwyck is a classic example of a Dutch 'Vanitas' painting. It is essentially a religious works in the guise of a still life. 'Vanitas' paintings caution the viewer to be careful about placing too much importance in the wealth and pleasures of this life, as they could become an obstacle on the path to salvation. The title 'Vanitas' comes from a quotation from the Book of Ecclesiastes 1:2, 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'
ASSIGNMENT:
We will be combining the concepts of Self Portraiture and Still Lifes to create a
SELF PORTRAIT STILL LIFE:
Art students in in every art class will be creating SELF-PORTRAITS – or SELFIES out of objects from around your houses or in your bedrooms that define us: objects that are uniquely YOU and items that hold special meaning.
Find your favorite objects such as your cozy sweater, an adventure book, your gaming controller etc. These things should define or describe you in some way – movie or concert tickets, passport, souvenirs etc. You can even include foods and pets if you can get them to sit still! Arrange these objects in an aesthetically pleasing way = think of your viewpoint and that everything is balanced and that you can see everything – check your lighting!
To call something aesthetically pleasing is in essence to call it beautiful, i.e. pleasing to the senses, but particularly the senses of sight and hearing— it would be unusual to describe a delicious meal or an aromatic perfume so.
Remember a Self Portrait is… a portrait of an artist produced or created by that artist = YOU!
And a Still Life is… a collection, or arrangement of mostly inanimate objects that are commonplace – what you might find around your bedroom or home.
>>> try to get at least 10 objects for your Still Life Self Portrait <<<
Once you take a picture you can
1. Email it to me NICLARK@LeePublicSchools.net
2. Post on your personal Instagram account and tag both our art account @Wildcat_Portfolio_Art and general school account @LeeMiddleandHighSchool
I have included a couple examples below and some students have already completed this assignment and you are able to view them at https://www.instagram.com/wildcat_portfolio_art/
Remember you have until Sunday April 12th by 12:00 am/midnight to email your image(s) to me – some people like to try a few compositions and angles when taking the photo.
HAVE FUN WITH IT!
Please feel free to contact me with questions NICLARK@LeePublicSchools.net
SELF PORTRAIT STILL LIFE:
Art students in in every art class will be creating SELF-PORTRAITS – or SELFIES out of objects from around your houses or in your bedrooms that define us: objects that are uniquely YOU and items that hold special meaning.
Find your favorite objects such as your cozy sweater, an adventure book, your gaming controller etc. These things should define or describe you in some way – movie or concert tickets, passport, souvenirs etc. You can even include foods and pets if you can get them to sit still! Arrange these objects in an aesthetically pleasing way = think of your viewpoint and that everything is balanced and that you can see everything – check your lighting!
To call something aesthetically pleasing is in essence to call it beautiful, i.e. pleasing to the senses, but particularly the senses of sight and hearing— it would be unusual to describe a delicious meal or an aromatic perfume so.
Remember a Self Portrait is… a portrait of an artist produced or created by that artist = YOU!
And a Still Life is… a collection, or arrangement of mostly inanimate objects that are commonplace – what you might find around your bedroom or home.
>>> try to get at least 10 objects for your Still Life Self Portrait <<<
Once you take a picture you can
1. Email it to me NICLARK@LeePublicSchools.net
2. Post on your personal Instagram account and tag both our art account @Wildcat_Portfolio_Art and general school account @LeeMiddleandHighSchool
I have included a couple examples below and some students have already completed this assignment and you are able to view them at https://www.instagram.com/wildcat_portfolio_art/
Remember you have until Sunday April 12th by 12:00 am/midnight to email your image(s) to me – some people like to try a few compositions and angles when taking the photo.
HAVE FUN WITH IT!
Please feel free to contact me with questions NICLARK@LeePublicSchools.net
GO FURTHER = CHALLENGE YOURSELF
If you want to take the challenge a step further you can draw out these objects = the Still Life you have created and add color and/or shading with pens, colored pencils, graphite pencils, markers, paints – anything you have at home!
Symbolic Still Life: A Self-Portrait in Objects
https://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/33147/symbolic%20still%20life.pdf
Symbolic Still Life: A Self-Portrait in Objects
https://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/33147/symbolic%20still%20life.pdf
It looks like it is going to be a BEAUTIFUL day so make sure you get out for some fresh air and sunshine – always exercising social distancing and washing your hands of course!
I look forward to seeing what you all come up with and don’t forget to check back for WEDNESDAY WATCH!
All best,
Nicole Webster Clark
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Nicole
Webster
Clark
Visual + Fine Art Educator
Mixed Media Visual Artist