Hey Friends!
Georgia O’Keeffe is one of the most special artists of the last 100 years! She is known for being the first female painter to gain attention and respect in New York's art world in the 1920s. She had unique way of painting nature, simplifying its shapes and forms in a manner no one had seen before!
O'Keeffe was born on November 15, 1887 on a farm near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She grew up with her six brothers and sisters, by the time she was 12 years old, she knew she wanted to be an artist. Her parents sent her to art school, but she was not very inspired by what she learned there.
In 1912, she got to meet an artist named Arthur Wesley Dow. He inspired her art in a big way! She said this about Dow: "His idea was, to put it simply, fill a space in a beautiful way." From then on she began to experiment with shapes, colors and marks. She is best known for her paintings of flowers and desert landscapes.
Georgia O’Keeffe is one of the most special artists of the last 100 years! She is known for being the first female painter to gain attention and respect in New York's art world in the 1920s. She had unique way of painting nature, simplifying its shapes and forms in a manner no one had seen before!
O'Keeffe was born on November 15, 1887 on a farm near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. She grew up with her six brothers and sisters, by the time she was 12 years old, she knew she wanted to be an artist. Her parents sent her to art school, but she was not very inspired by what she learned there.
In 1912, she got to meet an artist named Arthur Wesley Dow. He inspired her art in a big way! She said this about Dow: "His idea was, to put it simply, fill a space in a beautiful way." From then on she began to experiment with shapes, colors and marks. She is best known for her paintings of flowers and desert landscapes.
O'Keeffe traveled to the West during the summer of 1929. She fell in love with the landscape of New Mexico. The land and the Native American and Hispanic cultures of the New Mexico inspired her art so much that she wanted to stay as close to it as possible. She lived and traveled around the desert drawing, painting and sleeping under the stars. She lived and worked out of her car during this time, dedicating her whole life to her art!
Below is one of her works of art from the west. It is a landscape painting of hills. Can you see how she has simplified the shapes of the hills in the painting? She used color to show detail and movement in the hills.
Flowers fascinated O'Keeffe, and they were her favorite subject for her art. She often painted her favorite flowers like the calla lily, poppy, canna, iris, petunia, and jimson weed. She painted her flowers in simple, often abstracted forms, and in bold color. She would emphasize the flower by not adding a distracting background, usually just a solid color that complemented the subject.
Because of this, we don't always have context for the paintings. This is because O'Keeffe wanted people to take their time to enjoy the beauty of the flower without distraction. In her words:
"Anyone who doesn't feel the crosses simply doesn't get that country. If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it, no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself--I'll paint what I see--what the flower is to me, but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it--I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers. ”
Because of this, we don't always have context for the paintings. This is because O'Keeffe wanted people to take their time to enjoy the beauty of the flower without distraction. In her words:
"Anyone who doesn't feel the crosses simply doesn't get that country. If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it, no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself--I'll paint what I see--what the flower is to me, but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it--I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers. ”
The poppy painting was created in 1927 by using oil on canvas. Painting the flower this large was O'Keeffe's way of getting others to see the wonder of small flowers up close. This poppy's color is bold and intense, with tints of red, orange, white and pink.
Georgia O'Keefe will always be known as one of the most inspirational artists of the 20th century! What do you think of her art? Do you like how she helps her viewers slow down to enjoy the little things?
Georgia O'Keefe will always be known as one of the most inspirational artists of the 20th century! What do you think of her art? Do you like how she helps her viewers slow down to enjoy the little things?
Time to make some art!
Georgia O’Keeffe is famous for painting extremely close-up views of flowers in bright, bold colors.
Here is what you need to make your own!
– blank canvas or paper
– watercolor or acrylic paints and brushes (you can also use markers or crayons if you wish!)
– pencil
– live or silk flowers
First, you will need to gather your supplies! Go outside to find a flower that you want to paint. Look for one with vibrant colors! You can also use silk flowers that you might have around your house.
Once you have your flower, use your pencil to draw its outline on your paper or canvas. Make it as big as you can! The petals should reach or even go off the edges of your paper, and make sure your petals overlap!
Fill in your sketch with bold and bright colors! look out for any little details in your flower and be sure you add them to your painting!
Here is what you need to make your own!
– blank canvas or paper
– watercolor or acrylic paints and brushes (you can also use markers or crayons if you wish!)
– pencil
– live or silk flowers
First, you will need to gather your supplies! Go outside to find a flower that you want to paint. Look for one with vibrant colors! You can also use silk flowers that you might have around your house.
Once you have your flower, use your pencil to draw its outline on your paper or canvas. Make it as big as you can! The petals should reach or even go off the edges of your paper, and make sure your petals overlap!
Fill in your sketch with bold and bright colors! look out for any little details in your flower and be sure you add them to your painting!
Artwork for this blog provided by Mary Margaret White
