The Value of Varying Values

Two still life paintings, both by successful, well-known artists (Cézanne & Hockney, respectively), both making use of complementary colours. But I have very different reactions to them. I could look at the Cézanne for hours; it fascinates me despite its simple subject. I’d love to see the original, but since it’s in a private collection, [...]

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Spotting the Differences

Back when I first started this blog, I quoted Maggie Stiefvater’s advice, and it’s stuck in my mind ever since:
If you see a painting that you love, don’t just love it.  Deconstruct it and steal its soul.
A few days ago I found a fun exercise, Renoir: Spot The Differences on Patricia Buzo’s blog. She has posted Renoir’s [...]

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Art History

A few days ago I would have said that these two pictures had nothing in common.  The Egyptian painting with its typically distorted bodies – head and legs in profile, and a frontal view of the eye and torso – looks awkward to modern eyes, while the idealized body of the Discobolos seems beautiful [...]

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