Visual Recording

These are some visual recordings of mine which are helping me to plan my final design.

Duel After a Masquerade Ball

Duel After a Masquerade Ball

The Duel After a Masquerade Ball was painted by Jean-Léon Gérôme in 1857. He produced this painting in a style known as Academicism and worked in oil on canvas. The painting depicts a duel after a costume ball in Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The literal objects in the painting are mainly the men in their costumes and their weapons.  However the wilderness, trees and snow surrounding them are also a big part of the painting as it sets the scene. It is dawn on a wintry day in the Bois de Boulogne Wintry day which gives a sense of a bitter atmosphere and could be pathetic fallacy for the characters as it represents the patriot being cold and lifeless.

The background of the scene is simple and faded bringing the characters at the front into the main focus.  Gérôme also uses less texture as it gets further back which exaggerates the distance. For example he uses lots of texture and detail in their costumes and simplifies the detail around them. The characters are dressed up in a variety of costumes; they have different colours and patterns. The effect of this is that it makes the painting stand out and more exciting to look at as they are all individual. Their costumes mean they all represent something different and I believe that the white represents innocence, the red danger and the black symbolizes death. The Pierrot is in white and has blood stains on him which could magnify the loss of innocence as he has witnessed this dual and the end of his life. Gérôme has also placed the white next to black which is a contrast and makes the Pierrot stand out. The people in the background are in shades of dull murky brown and fade into the background. They are part of the painting but don’t detract attention from the main characters. The colours graduate into duller colours as it gets further back to look further away and flow together.

At first glance I feel the painting is open for a lot of interpretation seeing as the people surrounding him could be protecting him from something which has already hurt him or they could be the attackers. I feel that they are helping him from the way they are holding him up while he is vulnerable and weak slanting to the ground. In closer inspection the Pierrot succumbs in the arms of the Duc de Guise. A Venetian doge examines Pierrot's wound while Domino clasps his head in despair. To the right, the victorious American Indian departs, accompanied by Harlequin.

There is lots of space in the landscape image as everything figure is spread out. This makes the characters seem isolated and the main attention is on the front characters.  Yet there is a sword at the very front of the painting highlighting the theme of death. In each part of the painting there is something going on, which makes it a very interesting piece to look at. There is the unity of the sword and clothing while everything else is in pairs this could represent a lost life with their valuables missing.

The range of Jean-Léon Gérôme oeuvre included historical painting, Greek mythology, Orientalism, portraits and other subjects, bringing the Academic painting tradition to an artistic climax. I feel there are many interpretations you can get from his painting and maybe this is purposely meant by him as he wants an intrigued curious response from the audience. I believe that the artist portrayed these individuals in costume so it

is a mystery as to who they are and why they are in rivalry against one another. It makes it more interesting when they are in masquerade as it seems almost fictional and is a story within a story. When I look at the image I am intrigued as I want to know what made this duel happen in the first place as the painting focuses on the finished dual rather than the start. In the painting Gérôme replicates, with slight variations, a composition he had executed for the Duc d'Aumale in 1857. It suggests that he has strong feelings towards this event and is trying to get his message across that the event shouldn’t have happened.

I really like this artwork because it has significant meaning and it is based on history and focusing on life and death.  I feel it is a brilliant piece of artwork seeing as it is painted by French painter who is considered one of the most important painters from this academic period and this adds artistic value to the work. The painting requires a high level of skill to produce such a detailed piece of work with so much meaning and history involved and I can see this piece being displayed in a Museum. This is not a painting I find pleasing to look at as it is quite depressing and very traditional where I prefer more modern works of art but I admire it and appreciate how well thought out and painted it is.

Malcolm Coils, Venice

I adore this painting by Malcolm Coils, for the main reason that I am inspired by the way he uses watercolour. It is fun and colourful with lots of life to it. He has created so many effects by using watercolour and I love the way the colours merge and blend, flowing together. There are so many types of colours he has used ranging from dark to light tones and to contrasting and harmonious colours. He has positioned the mask in the centre which makes it stand out as the main feature of the painting I also love the way the colour surrounds the mask and has become part of the mask itself by fading into it uniting the painting as one.

My opinion of the Masquerade Ball poster's

Here are some examples of Masquerade Ball posters. I really like these designs as they are informative and clear, they include all the needed information and get the point of the poster across straight away. I think they are very exciting due to the extravagant beautifully designed masks and the creative titles. All of the colours used compliment each element of the poster for example in the 'Cumber House Claudy' poster there is a theme of gold and white, it fits into an order of white to gold making a pattern which makes it more interesting. As well as this the mask is gold which goes with the writing making it flow together. I feel that the designs are very sophisticated, I think this is an effect of using a script writing and the way it is presented. Seeing as the layout is planned to give spacing between each feature, which means it is not jumbled or overwhelming. As well as this everything included on the poster has more significance as it has its own space. These posters have really inspired me to see ways I can compose the layout of my poster to make a clear sophisticated work of art. 

Masquerade Ball Poster's

My opinion of Jack Vettriano's paintings

 I adore his work because they are all elegant and sophisticated; in every painting the figures are dressed formally and have high class. This is especially seen in the painting ‘The Singing Butler’ seeing as there is a maid and butler serving the dancers in the bad weather. It adds a sense of humour to his work as the maid is almost getting blown over from the wind and there are umbrellas surrounding them so they don’t get wet although the maid and butler are. It could also indicate in some of the extremes of money which is sometimes comical. I get this impression from the painting because Jack Vettriano was brought up in poverty and could be trying to get the point across of naivety. When I look at his work I see passion of love in his work, there is a red dress which the woman of the picture usually wears and the dances are intimate and show connection; I find that this makes ballroom dancing even more meaningful and beautiful being an act of love. I love his style of painting because it looks real from a distance through his shading and proportions, and when you get closer you can see his artistic touch.  His work has inspired me to work in oil colour for my poster because I adore the rich colour and the endless tones of colour he paints. I also love the fact he has included a setting as part of the paintings which adds to the atmosphere and makes it individual as the dancers are in unusual places which aren't the typical ballroom or studio. This technique of Vettriano has got me thinking whether or not I should include a setting in my painting and if it should be of a ballroom or not, so I will continue with my experiments and research to see.

Jack Vettriano

Vettriano positions the dancers in the centre of each painting which makes them seem more significant. I think his work is aesthetically pleasing and I would happily have his work in my own home. I love his style of painting as it is subtle and not overwhelming. 

Jack Vettriano

Who is Jack Vettriano?

My teacher recommended Jack Vettriano to me and I researched his work on the internet and have grown very fond of it. Jack Vettriano is a self taught Scottish painter and publisher. He creates his work in oil colour which makes his work strong and rich in colour. He produces most of his work in relation to dancing and relationships. I particularly admire Jack Vettriano’s work for the artist value in itself, seeing as he has made something for himself through a poor background and he has taught himself to become a professional painter which shows lots of motivation and talent. He can be recognized as an artist through his paintings because of his style and features included. I love this as you can relate and emphasize with his work as you get a better understanding of it. 

Jack Vettriano

.

How does she create movement?

She uses block colour in different shapes, then smudges and blends in colour on the outlines of the figures clothing to give the painting movement. I am really inspired by Sera Knight’s work because I feel it represents the liveliness of ballroom dancing well and each painting gives off a different atmosphere through the use of colour.  For example calm shades of blues with bursts of sharp royal blues creating a relaxed mood with intrigue, in contrast to orange and yellows giving a joyful mood. Her work is very original and isn't a direct copy of a scene, it is her own interpretation.

I really like her technique of the way she paints and I want to create a similar effect in my poster by using lots of colour together and making it more faint and dark in areas. I feel this painting represents our vision rather than a photograph when the dancer’s remain still. Seeing as the blurred parts of the painting where she uses the technique of smudging, merging and fading are like our eyes when they are trying to focus in such a fast movement. This makes it seem like we are part of the scene. I really want to create a lively, bold piece which doesn’t necessarily follow all the aspects of real life in much the same way as Sera Knight. I believe I can create a powerful painting with the way I use colour and want to work in a similar way to Sera Knight.

Who is Sera Knight?

Sera Knight has been drawing and painting since childhood. She paints mainly in watercolour, acrylic and mixed media. Tackling human figure and perspective has always been her favourite subjects but she also enjoys different subjects where drawing creates a challenge.

Regardless of the subject, to be able to use the light cleverly, create a mystical atmosphere together with technical and emotional strength is her aim. Sera also paints on glass objects to the effect of stained glass and exhibits these separately.

Her paintings of dancers have been made into a fundraising calendar for 2009 in USA. In addition, some of her paintings of dancers have been used by design firms in USA.

As a result she was approached by a gallery in Beverly Hills to take part in an International competition. Sera is also popular among GSCE and A level students and has been chosen as the artist to be studied for their course work many times.Sera teaches adult education classes and tutors private groups and holds workshops and gives demo's in watercolour, acrylic, mixed media and drawing mediums.

Sera Knight looks at ballroom dancers and presents them 
in a new way by using lots of colour making it stand out creating a bold, exciting piece with lots going on. She uses lots of powerful colours which magnifies the liveliness of ballroom dancing and represents a mixture of moods when dancing. The thing I find most fascinating about her work is that her paintings are abstract and don’t fit the real life image identically, it is her own interpretation. It is modern compared to the more traditional ball painting approaches that create their work in fine detail almost identical to the scene.



This is my response to Sera Knight's work as I tried to experiment working in her style.

Sera Knight

Christina Hopkinson thoughts

I am drawn to Christina Hopkinson's artwork mainly because of the colour and exciting energy in her paintings. She has used watercolour and watercolour pencil to produce these paintings, however I feel the paintings are strong and rich in colour in contrast to the usual light watercolour paintings which makes her work very unique. The thing that I find most fascinating about her work is the way that she has composed her painting, she has the masks positioned in different angles placed on a black background which is similar to the Masquerade Ball Posters I have researched and I feel you can get a vibe of this in her paintings. I also love how the masks almost look as if someone is staring at you even though they are faceless masks which aren't being worn, as it makes me intrigued by the paintings.

Christina Hopkinson

My Opinion of Steve O'connell's artwork

I really like Steve O'Connell's paintings because he creates a different scene and landscape each time. His paintings are situated in Naples, Sorrento and Rivoli. I think that it makes his work more interesting as it isn't in a traditional ballroom which is full of couples, yet it is just two of them on a beach. I feel that the beach gives off a calm atmosphere and makes the setting more romantic.  I love the way he works in oil colour, it appears that he blends the colours together which creates a smudge texture. The colours he uses are soft in tone which gives a peaceful mood. I like the way the background is very simple but it represents where it is well, it is pale with limited detail which gives it a greater distance. This makes the dancers stand out, becoming the centre of attention. The thing I love the most about his paintings are the figures reflections on the surface as you can get a sense of their composition and the lighting. It is well thought out in all aspects and I feel the shadows makes the dancer's seem more elegant.  I love the sky especially in. 'Rivoli' as he has blended lots of  different shades of colour together. He also includes colours on the woman's dress in the sky which makes the painting flow together. I have noticed that in his paintings the main focus is on the female as the man's face cannot be seen in any painting as the dance position means he is facing the other way. I find that this is one disadvantage of the painting because the dance doesn't seem as personal to the viewer and there is no connection is seen between the dancers. 

Who is Steve O'Connell?

As a child, Steve O'Connell loved to paint and draw and from a young age was always determined to have a career as an artist. Unable to afford to go to Art College, He taught himself to paint and draw in various media, including oil, pastel and pencil and by learning from artist’s instruction manuals and self-teaching books from his local library.Having to leave school at age sixteen He had to get work to help support the family as his father had left home and money was in short supply. He managed to get a job as a junior commercial artist but found this work unfulfilled and creatively suffocating.Eventually he left and managed to start his own company selling his original paintings at London’s famous Apple Market in the heart of Covent Garden where he still has a stall to this day.

Steve O'Connell bases his art on dancers, from young children to adults. He also looks at ballroom dancers which is the main reason why I am drawn to him as an artist seeing as it gives me a new outlook on how ballroom dancers can be presented.

Steve O'connell

Julius LeBlanc Stewart, A Hunt Ball

Another artist I looked at who followed a traditional approach was Julius LeBlanc Stewart. H was born on September 6, 1855, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died on January 5, 1919, in Paris, France. He was an American artist who spent his career in Paris and was a contemporary of fellow expatriate painter John Singer Sargent.

I really like this painting of a Ball by Julius Stewart because it is so lively and joyful. It's as he has captured a moment in still life. I like Stewart's interpretation of ballroom dancing as his painting emphasizes how fun ballroom dancing can be, seeing as each individual is presented to be happy, they are smiling,laughing and getting involved. They are dressed in matching formal outfits which implies ballroom dancing is a regular activity in their routine as they have the correct wear, it could also suggest is a big part of their lives during the 1800's as they have all gathered together to dance and this magnifies the importance of ballroom dancing.

Victor Gabriel Gilbert, An Elegant Soiree

To start my research into Masquerade Ball related  artists, I decided to look at the traditional paintings first before focusing on more modern approaches. This is so I can see how the art styles and views on Ball's have changed over time.  I have a better understanding of where Ball's originated from. An artist that particularly caught my eye is Victor Gabriel Gilbert. 

                                                          Oil painted on canvas

Victor Gilbert was born in Paris, in 1847. He was a genre painter and was particularly interested in the portrayal of market scenes and the picturesque details therein. Gilbert was awarded the Bonnat prize in 1926 and died in 1933. 

I particularly like Victor Gilbert's painting of a Victorian Ball because it is traditional and represent's the time period very well as the style of the Victorian's is shown. The painting is very elegant as it is situated in a posh, decorated hall with people who seem sophisticated in their clothing and posture. I love the pale colours Gilbert has used because it gives the painting a calm mood and each colour compliments one another. The different colour outfits of the people also makes it clear to see how many individuals there are and makes the piece exciting as the colours collide together.

I chose Victor Gilbert's painting 'An Elegant Soiree' to focus on because I feel it is a sophisticated, elegant painting that gives off a relaxing and uplifting atmosphere. It also attracted me seeing as it takes you back to how Ball's used to be when they originally started. The image focuses on the whole scene with the view of the hall and lots of people included so you can get a sense of the atmosphere and visualise the experience.