Samuel Palmer 1805-1881 etchings

Samuel Palmer (1805-1881) was a British landscape printer, etcher and printmaker. From the age of 12, Palmer found an interest in painting churches,  by 14, his work was presented at the Royal Academy.  In 1824, Palmer was introduced to William Blake,  his influence Palmer throughout his work and can be seen. In 1835, Palmer moved back to London. During this type his working style had changed from mystical and changed to a more conventional way of working. In 1837, Palmer took to using watercolours and was made a full member of the watercolour society in 1854.
Between the years of 1850 and 1880, Palmer created his landscape etchings.  His fantastic attention to detail is what makes his etchings so spectacular.  The difference in tone makes the landscapes look almost like a photograph by creating a sense of distance within the image. His work also shows an amazing contrast between light and dark which makes the etchings more realistic.  Some of my favourites include; Christmas 1850, The sleeping shephard; early morning 1857 and Moeris and Galatea 1880/83.

Self portrait - Frida Kahlo influence

I decided to use Frida Kahlo's,  self portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird 1940 for my inspiration. I found Kahlo's work to be interesting,  raw and full of depth.  After a tragic accident that happened when she was younger,  she experienced a lot of pain and dispair. She used her emotion and experience to create her art,  where pain was a common feeling presented in most.
In my image, I drew myself with barbwire cutting into my neck, this is to represent suffocation.  It also shows lack of control and distress through the wire piercing the skin. I also added scars to my face to show an idea of damage.  When I look in the mirror I don't recognise the person looking back, I see someone who is scarred, broken and hideous,  I feel anger and misery all at once.  The Oriental lily in my hair is meant to stand out from the rest of the image, it resembles beauty, fragile and innocence. Whereas on the other side, there is a raven, constantly watching my every move, waiting for any sign of weakness.  I enjoyed this type of work but would have preferred to have more time to perfect it.

Self portrait, hand supporting head

I was asked to do a self portrait with my head supported by my hand. I thought about an everyday pose, then I figured I would try something different.  I decided to cover half my face with my hand,  showing only half of my left eye. I decided to keep this one in pencil as I figured colour would ruin it. I enjoyed doing this one but feel there is something missing and im not sure what.  I dohowever,  feel that the reflects the mood I was in at the time.

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778)

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) was an Italian Artist, known as one of the greatest printmakers of the 18th century. In 1740, he became an apprentice to Giuseppe Vasi,an Italian etcher and Architect who introduced Piranesi to etching and engraving. After this, Piranesi worked with some pupils from the French academy in Rome.  It was during this time that his first work, Prima parte Di Architettura e prospettitive (1743) was created. Between 1743-1747, Piranesi opened a workshop in Via del Corso. It was at this time,  it was thought he often visited Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, a leading Artist in Venice. Over the next 30 years,  Piranesi continued to work on a variety of different projects including restoring the ancient sculpture,  the Piranesi Vase. In 1778, after suffering from an illness, Piranesi died.
Piranesi's work was recognised for the imagination and fantasy which he was able to make visible in his etchings. He would improve the buildings by adding lighting effects and tone. His use of light and dark tone,  made his etchings realistic and interesting. Piranesi has also paid close attention to shapes and angles when looking at composition. "The prisons" is a series of 16 prints,  containing stairs,  walls and machinery.  His idea was to provide an imaginative view of a prison interior.  Some of these etchings also inspired romanticism and surrealism.

The Arch of Trajan at Benevito

The Pyramid of Cestius

Carceri plate VI - The Smoking Fire

Carceri plate VII - The Drawbridge 

Carceri Plate XIV- The Gothic Arch 

Carceri Plate IX - The Giant Wheel 

Above are a selection of my favourite etchings. I find the detail within each etching absolutely incredible.  The variation of tone and line work make the images beautiful to look at, I feel I could spend hours with them.

Charicature second attempt

This is my second attempt at a Caricature. I feel like I have exaggerated a few of my features.  Atleast it is better than my previous attempt.

Honore Daumier

Honore Daumier (1808-1879) was a French print maker, Sculptor, painter and caricaturist. In 1822, at age 14, he began to study drawing with Alexandre Lenoir, who later introduced him to paintings of Rubens and Titian as well as classical sculptures. In 1825, Daumier started working as an assistant to the Lithographer Belliard. This is where he created his first copies of drawings which he done with Louvre. By 1829, Daumier's first lithographs were published in "La silhouette. The following year, he made his first political caricatures but in 1831, the government destroys nearly all existing copies. Over the next few years, Daumier published his first lithograph for" La Caricature " and "The charivari". From 1835, Daumier began making less political linographs as a result of a new law against freedom. Over the following years, his work is published many times in the press. By 1857, Daumier completes lithographs for a project on the "Fables of La Fontaine", he base's them on mainly theatrical scenes. As well as oil paintings and wood cuts,  Damier still continues to produce lithographs. In 1867, Damier starts to introduce political themes again where he continues this for the next couple of years.  In 1879, at age 71,Damier dies. His wife sold all remaining works of art before passing away in 1895.

What I enjoy most about Daumier's work,  is that he is able to add humour through his use of line work and observation. He is able to produce an image, which adds a deep sense of mood by his talented drawing skills. I find his work highly amusing and inspiring,  the facial expressions are fantastic.

Charicature

I was asked to make a charicature of myself for homework. I searched for some ideas of charicatures online,  wondering if it would bring up what I predicted it would.  Sure enough,  there were images of people with over exaggerated facial features,  some with comical accessories.  I began to think how I would represent myself and after a few sketches, I decided I was like a super hero.  As I began to draw,  I found it difficult to over exaggerated my facial features but I like what I have done. I see myself as strong,  confident and not afraid of trying something new. I feel that every day is a struggle due to my hectic life but,  everyday I feel accomplished and proud of myself.  Of course I will have good days and bad days like everyone else, but I power through and i am happy with what I have produced.

David Hockney - the Rakes Progress

"we live in an age where the Artist is forgotten.  He is a researcher,  I see myself that way". David Hockney.

David Hockney was born in England in 1973. He ia a well-known photographer, painter, draughtsman,  print maker and stage designer.
"The Rakes Progress"  is a series of etchings Hockney created, based on the work of English Artist,  William Hogarth. In 1733 Hogarth produced a series of 8 paintings about the rise and fall of Tom Rakewell, each painting tells a different stage of what happened.  In Hockney's version,  there are 16 etchings. He also felt that inspired by Hogarth's work, in 1975, he began working with director John Cox to create production of Igor Starvinsky's opera based on Hogarth's,  the rake progress.
William Hogarth's, "the Rakes story"is based on the fictional character, Tom Rakewell, who inherited a fortune from his late father but loses everything. The series of paintings were finished in 1733, they followed the popular, " A Harlots progress " which was about a woman moving from the countryside and becoming a prostitute. Unfortunately,  the series was destroyed in a fire in 1755.

Hogarths,  the Rakes Progress starts with a painting  names, "The Heir" is of Tom being informed that he has inherited his miserly fathers fortune. He is attempting to pay off servant girl, Sarah Young who has on her hand, a gold ring, which was from an earlier,  now retracted marriage proposal. There is also a lawyer stealing gold coins,  an upholsterer who finds some hidden money and servants hunting for money and goods in the fireplace and behind wall hangings.
The second painting,  "The levee" is of Tom holding a morning reception for other wealthy gentlemen. There are also professionals including a gardener and a tailor offering their services.
"The Orgy" is the third painting in the series. Tom is enjoying a drink with some prostitutes at the Rose Tavern in Covent Garden. The scene is set at 3am and the woman at the front is undressing in preparation for her naked poses.
"The Arrest"  is the next painting in the series which shows Tom narrowly avoiding arrest on the way to the Queens birthday reception at St James Palace. it is Sarah Young who pays his bail money for his freedom with the little earnings she has.
"The Marriage"  tells of Toms decision to marry an elderly woman for her fortune. The idea of living a life without luxury was not an option. The woman has one eye and does not hold Toms interest.
"The gaming House" shows Tom angry at fate due to his incredible of his second fortune - He gambled everything and lost.
The seventh in the series is, "The prison" is a picture of Tom is a prisoner of the Fleet, Londons infamous debtors prisons. The prisoners are hopeless,  some are desperate to find an escape route, and some are presenting the first signs of insanity.
The 8th and final image in the series is named, "The madhouse -the end of the line". At this point,  Tom is now in Bethlem hospital-often called Bedlam- after his descent into madness. There are people with various delusions, One man who is unclothed thinks he is a king. In the background,  there are women who have came to view the mentally ill. As Bedlam was open to the public,  this was a fun day out for the wealthy to look down on the less fortunate.

The heir

The levee 

The Orgy

The Arrest 

The Marriage 

The Gaming House 

The prison

The madhouse - the end of the line

Hockney used these paintings for inspiration but told his story over 16 prints. These prints have been designed around the modern day. Although it is clear Hockney has added his own personal style,  I feel that Hogarth's work is more interesting.  I find Hogarth's work has more depth and I can almost get a feel for what each situation would have been like. I find it difficult to relate to Hockney's version of "The Rakes Progress".