Eddie's ART F200X Blog

    Hello, everyone. This week, I decided to tackle two of the most opposing movements during the Romantic era. Post-Impressionism and Realism. Now, I have my opinions on both of these movements, and you'll read those soon. Let's start with... Post-Impressionism Wheat Field with Cypresses by Vincent van Gogh       Painted in 1889 by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, this painting is actually a series of three identical paintings, all made in the same year. This is the one currently displayed in New York. This painting is also part of a long series that van Gogh had painted, known as the "wheat fields" series. Can you guess what he painted a lot of? Regardless, van Gogh is a classic example of post-impressionism, with his focus on what the painting makes you feel rather than the focus on depicting something accurately. In my opinion, I feel the main goal of my art is to evoke emotion, so this is something I share with Van Gogh.     I love th...

      Hello, everyone. This week, I decided to take my historical knowledge out of the cupboard, dust it off a bit, and show you all some relevant art during a very tumultuous time at the end of the 18th century. An age of revolutions, if you will. The most famous of which being both the French Revolution (1789-1799) and the American Revolution (1775-1783). Of course, art was still being made during these times, and the artists of the time were undoubtedly influenced by the events around them. So without further ado, let us start with... The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David     Also known as La Mort de Marat, and painted in 1793 by French artist Jacques-Louis David, this dramatic scene depicts the assassination of Jean-Paul Marat. Marat was a leader of the Montagnards, a faction that was active during the French Revolution. He was assassinated by Charlotte Corday, a political enemy of his, though not a loyalist to the crown. Marat was said to have...

       Hello, everyone. Unlike last week, it did not take me long to find a painting I wanted to talk about. I knew that I wanted to talk about a tronie, because those are my favorite baroque paintings. And after just a bit of searching, I found the one I wanted. Self-Portrait with Magic Scene By Pieter van Laer      Painted circa 1635-1637 by Dutch artist Pieter Bodding van Laer, this piece certainly elicits a reaction at first glance. For me, that was laughter. And this is exactly why I wanted to talk about a tronie. Though, whether this fits the modern usage of the word or not because it's a self-portrait and not an unidentifiable person, I'm not sure. Regardless, this painting is amazing. But what exactly is going on here? Analysis     This painting is a self-portrait of Pieter van Laer. Despite the seemingly comical nature of his expression, it is actually a look of horror as he gazes at the claws of the devil. Around him are many a...

    Hello, everyone. For this post, it took me a while of perusing various works of Renaissance art that fulfilled the requirements. Mostly because I didn't want to just go for something obvious like the Sistine Chapel, which isn't bad by any means, I just wanted to look for something, perhaps, less well known. And I came up with... Ezekiel's Vision By Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino      Painted circa 1517-1518 by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known more often as Raphael, it is an expressive piece that depicts the Biblical story of Ezekiel and his vision of God's glory. " Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord ." (Ezekiel 1:28)     The first thing that this painting tries to inspire is a feeling of awe or power. As it is meant to depict a divine vision of God himself, this is not surprising. You get this...

     Hello, everyone. Today, I would like to share with you one of my favorite paintings and the several different ways it uses the elements of art for deeper meaning and symbolism. The painting in question?  The Seventh Plague of Egypt By John Martin      Painted in 1823 by English painter John Martin, this dramatic piece depicts the seventh plague that descended upon Egypt in the Biblical story of Moses, known as the Plague of Hail. " And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. " (Exodus 9:23)     First and foremost, the pure drama that exudes from this piece is apparent. The swirling and ominous clouds that bring forth destruction, the bright lights and its intentional use, and the small scale of the terrified people in the painting evoke such a strong sense of grand power. Let's break some of this down. Co...

     Hello, everyone. My name is Edward Eakins, but I go by Eddie. I was born in Olympia, Washington but have lived in Wasilla, Alaska since I was six months old. Some of my hobbies include drawing, writing, and playing video games/watching TV shows. I am currently pursing a History degree with a minor in Art, and I am also part of the Honors Program at UAF. As for what I'm hoping to use my degree for, well... we'll just see, now won't we? But I know I would like to do something involving art.     For as long as I can remember, I have always been drawing. Even as a little kid, I loved to draw. When I was around fourteen years old is when I decided to take my drawing more seriously, and I figured that I might be able to make a career out of it. While I'm not sure what I could do with it, I have been drawing fairly consistently ever since. Four years ago, I got my first tablet and digital drawing program, which is what I now use to make art. I have been slow...