Art History Research: Pablo Picasso

      Pablo Ruiz Picasso, whose full name was Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso; but was known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso, was born in the city of Málaga, Spain on October 25, 1881.  Picasso was a Spanish artist who is widely known for the co-founding of the Cubist movement and helped develop a wide variety of styles of art.
      Picasso he was the first child of Don José Ruiz y Blasco and María Picasso y Lopez. His family was middle-class. Picasso showed a passion and a skill for drawing from an early age; becoming preoccupied with art to the detriment of his classwork. In 1895, Picasso was traumatized when his seven-year old sister, Conchita, died of diphtheria. After her death, the family moved to Barcelona. Picasso thrived in the city, regarding it in times of sadness or nostalgia as his true home.
      Picasso’s father and uncle decided to send the young artist to Madrid’s Royal Academy of San Fernando, the country's foremost art school. At age 16, Picasso set off for the first time on his own, but he disliked formal instruction and quit attending classes soon after enrollment. Madrid, however, held many other attractions.
      During the first decade of the 20th century, his style changed as he experimented with different theories, techniques, and ideas. His revolutionary artistic accomplishments made him universal renown and brought him immense fortune, making him one of the best-known figures in 20th century art.
      In the early 20th century, Picasso divided his time between Barcelona and Paris. All throughout his life, Picasso maintained a number of mistresses in addition to his wife or primary partner. Picasso was married twice and had four children by at least three women, and had numerous other mistresses. Each of his wives/mistresses played large roles in his art works, such as his paintings. Some of these mistresses and wives stayed with him throughout his life; Such as the photographer and painter Dora Maar, who was a constant companion and lover of Picasso. It was Maar who documented the painting of Guernica, one of Picasso's most famous works.

      Picasso had continued numerous affairs with significantly younger women up through his 70s. Eventually, as evident in his work, Picasso began to come to terms with his advancing age and his waning attraction to young women. By his 70s, many paintings, ink drawings and prints have as their theme an old, grotesque dwarf as the doting lover of a beautiful young model.
     Pablo Picasso died on 8 April 1973 in his home in Mougins, France, while he and his wife Jacqueline entertained friends for dinner. His final words were “Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink any more.” Devastated and lonely after the death of Picasso, Jacqueline Roque took her own life by gunshot in 1986 when she was 60 years old. A few of his mistresses, such as Marie-Thérèse (the two also had a child); who, lived in the vain hope that Picasso would one day marry her, hanged herself four years after Picasso’s death. The two had first met in 1927.
      Picasso's work is often categorized into periods. While the names of many of his later periods are debated, the most commonly accepted periods in his work are the Blue Period (1901–1904), the Rose Period (1905–1907), the African-influenced Period (1908–1909), Analytic Cubism (1909–1912), and Synthetic Cubism (1912–1919).

Portfolio Pictures

The following are pictures of some of my ceramic work from the past 2 years:

1. Pitcher With An Attitude:

2. Elephant Teapot

3. Cheerful Spring Bird Teapot and Teacup Combo.

4. Green Man Forest Man

5. Scathing Man Mug

6. Red Jell-O

7. Group Photo

Full Body Self Portrait

Self Portrait Reference Photo:

Some Other Reference Photos:

Artists' Self Portrait Assignment

Assignment: make a blog art gallery of 3 artists' self portraits (as many as possible) and have each one answer the following questions:

1. Nationality
2. When was portrait made
3. What kind of art 
4. What medium
5. Where it is now located
6. Short description

Artist 1: Leonardo da Vinci
Biography: Leoardo da Vinci was born in Florence, Italy on April 15, 1452. He is know as the archetype of the Renaissance man. He is most widely known as an artist (thought he was many other things). At age 14 he was an apprentice to Andrea di Cione, who was known as Verocchio. At age of 26, he went off on his own to pursue his own work until his death on May 2, 1519.

Self portrait 1:

1. Italian
2. c. 1510
3. Self portrait
4. Red chalk on paper
5. Torino, Italy
6. It is a self portrait of Leonardo da Vinci at the age of 58. In the drawing, he looks much older than he actually is. He looks contently and wisely off to the side, there is no background or setting. The portrait is 13 1/2 X 8 3/8 in.

Self portrait 2: 

1. Italian
2. unknown
3. Self portrait
4. Tempera grassa on wooden panel
5. Museo Antiche Delle Genti di Lucania, Vagilo Basilicata, Italy
6. It is a self portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. It is unknown how old he is in this painting. It was discovered in 2008 by Nicola Barbatelli, Director of Museo Antiche delle Genti di Lucania (Museum of the Ancient People of Lucania) of Vaglio Basilicata, a hill town in Basilicata in Southern Italy, where it is currently exhibited. the portrait is 24 X 17 in.

Artist 2: Frida Kahlo
Biography: Frida Kahlo was born outside Mexico City on July 6, 1907. Kahlo was a Mexican painter, best known for her self-portraits. Kahlo's work is remembered for its "pain and passion," and its "intense, vibrant colors." Kahlo contracted polio at age six, which left her right leg thinner than the left, which she disguised by wearing long, colorful skirts. At the age of 15, Kahlo was enrolled in the Preparatoria, one of Mexico's premier schools. On September 17, 1925, Kahlo was in a bus accident, she suffered serious injuries that left her temporary immobile. She painted to occupy her time during her temporary state of immobilization. She continued to paint even after she fully recovered. She continued her career as a painter until her death on July 13, 1954.

Self portrait 1: "Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress"

1. Mexican
2. 1926
3. Self portrait
4. Oil on canvas
5. Mexico City, Mexico
6.  The painting is Frida's first self-portrait. It was painted as a gift for her boyfriend, Alejandro Gomez Arias (later on her husband), who had left her. It was given as a token of love by which she hoped to restore his affection and keep her in his thoughts.  Not long after Alejandro received the portrait, they were rejoined. The portrait reflects Frida's interest in the Italian Renaissance period. This self-portrait is Frida's interpretation of Botticelli's "Venus" which Alejandro admired. The painting is  31 X 23 1/2 in. (http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0020.html) 

 Self portrait 2: "Self-Portrait Along the Boarder Line Between Mexico and the United States"

1.  Mexican
2. 1932
3. Self Portrait
4. Oil on Metal
5. New York City, New York
6. Kahlo had lived in the United states for 3 years. She was growing homesick, this self portrait illustrates her attitude toward the US and Mexico as she stands in a feminine dress between two very different worlds. In her hand she holds a Mexican flag which indicates where her loyalties lie. On one side, the ancient Mexican landscape, with its rich warm natural earthy colors, exotic plants and pieces of Aztec sculpture. On the other side, the dead, technology-dominated landscape of the United State is portrayed in dull greys and blues. There is just one link between the two worlds: an electricity generator standing on the U.S. soil draws its power from the roots of a plant on the Mexican side. The portrait is 12 1/2 X 13 3/4 in. (http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0110.html)

Self portrait 3: "Self Portrait with a Monkey"

1. Mexican
2. 1938
3. Self Portrait
4. Oil on Masonite
5. Buffalo, New York
6. Usually in Mexican mythology, the monkey is the patron of dance and a symbol of lust. However, Kahlo portrays the monkey as a "living, tender and soulful being with its arm placed protectively around her neck." Kahlo uses a claustrophobic background of a tight curtain of leaves which pushes the image out towards the viewer. This was a style that she borrowed from another artist, Alfredo Ramos Martinez. Kahlo continues to use this style in her other self portraits. The portrait is 16 X 12 in. (http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0250.html)

Artist 3: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
Biography: Rembrandt was born in modern day Leiden, Netherlands (back then the Dutch Republic) on July 15, 1606. Rembrandt was a Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history. His contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age.  Rembrandt studied at the University of Leiden, and was an apprentice to Leiden history painter, Jacob van Swanenburgh, for three years. Afterwards he had a breif yet important apprenticeship with the famous painter Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam for six months. Around c. 1624-1625, Rembrandt opened a studio in Leiden, which he shared with his friend Jan Lievens. In 1627, Rembrandt began to accept students and teach. He was hired to create many works of art throughout his life, he continued painting until his death on October 4, 1669.

Self portrait 1: "Small Self Portrait"

1. Dutch
2. c.1627-1628
3. Self Portrait
4. Etching
5. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
6. The picture is believed to be the first self portrait Rembrandt made. He would've been around 21 or 22 at the time. This is also one of Rembrandt's first etchings. There is no background, only himself as the subject. The etching is 28 X 23 in.

Self Portrait 2:

1. Dutch
2. c. 1641
3. Self Portrait
4. Oil on Canvas
5. Norton Simon Art Foundation, Pasadena
6. This is a self portrait of Rembrandt from c. 1641. He would've been around 35 at the time, however, he looks much older. The background is simply a brownish green, about the same color as his attire. 

Self Portrait 3:

1. Dutch
2. 1669
3. Self Portrait
4. Oil on Canvas
5. Mauritshuis, The Hague
6. This is one of the last self portraits and artworks Rembrandt made. In this self portrait, he is 63 years old, there is very little background and the background and his clothing mix. the painting is 25 x 22.7 in.

Artist Statement

Artist Statement:
        I am interested in art because I believe it to be a unique form of expression, and is the broadest form of expression. My mother is a preschool art teacher and while her art is simply planned, and is constructed so that preschoolers can understand, it is still abstract, unique, and profound. Art is different for each person; even those who copy other art works do it in a different fashion. Unlike many other things in life, there is no right or wrong way to make art, it is whatever you create. Having that sort of freedom, the freedom to pursue your own “art” style, is almost like having wings.
        Some ideas for future pieces include balances between nature and technology, future and past, the here and the there (i.e. space with earth), and organic with inorganic (i.e. machines and people). Ever since I read the book “1984” it made me realize that everyone uses doublethink, thinking and believing in things that are contradictory. No human is all this or all that, we are all mixes of each. I believe having a healthy balance of each of these that are contradictory and opposite (technology vs. nature, fantasy vs. reality, individuality vs. collectivism, day vs. night…) is key to a healthy lifestyle. I believe doublethink is a sign of a healthy mind; which is why I would like to portray the potential balance between two or more unlike things.
         As stated, my theme is the balance between two unlike things. Ironically, my form (which is usually more constructed and exact; and uses one kind of technique and the same procedure each time) of art is very strict and hard to change . It is not very flexible to more shapeless, abstract pieces which are something I’d like to change. While we all tend to gravitated to one side of the balance than the other, I do not want my work to look too forced. I would not want my art to look as if I made an accountant paint the Starry Night. I’d like to learn to make my form more flexible, but I do not want to change it entirely, lest I lose that bit of uniqueness. However the case, my work is important and it is important to me to express my views while equally expressing the subject. Putting that bit of myself into the art that makes it mine is what I like most about art.
         In short, to me, art is about expressing yourself in your own unique way, a way that cannot be mimicked by anyone else, no matter how hard they tried.

Mexican Muralist Art History Research

Mexican Muralist Art History Research

Who? Diego Rivera

When? Diego Rivera was born December 8, 1886 in Guanajuato, Guanajuato. From the age of ten, Rivera studied art at the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City. At nineteen, he went to Europe to study art. Rivera was fascinated with 16^th century frescos of artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. Rivera returned to Mexico in 1921, he combined the Renaissance style figures with pre-Columbian subjects.Rivera wanted his art to idealize the average Mexican and wanted them to celebrate their heritage. Rivera’s art helped shape Mexican culture in the 1930s and 1940s. Rivera related nearly all of his work and subjects in his work to the Mexican Revolution. He was working on a mural based on the Mexican Revolution when he died on November 24, 1957.

Why? Artwork: “Totonac Civilization”

1. The art relates to the art world by the art illustrating the ancient Totonac civilization
2. The art relates to the artists body of work because most of Rivera’s work was based on Mexican pride, their pre-Columbian history, and their triumphs as Mexicans (i.e the Mexican Revolution).
3. The art work relates to me by illustrating what an ancient civilization might have been like. It provides insight to the ancient Mexican people.

Cafeteria Remodal Rough Draft

silhouette and other pictures for remodeling