Art, Perspective & Optical Illusions in Paintings

This painting by Tintoretto is of Christ Washing His Disciples Feet. This version is from the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Tintoretto painted this scene a number of times. The painting is a wonderful example of linear perspective. I wrote about linear perspective in prior posts. Linear perspective is a technique that creates illusions of 3 dimensional images on 2 dimensional supports, i.e. canvas. Parallel lines converge to a point(s) on the horizon line or eye level and the lines move into space. Size and distance between objects become smaller. In Tintoretto’s painting this is easily seen on the floor’s tiles. The illusion of movement in space is notable. It is difficult to see the knife (marked by me in green) facing the viewer on the table in this small computer image. The handle overlaps the edge of the table. When you look at the knife and walk slowly past the picture, the knife will appear to move with you. Stand to the left of the painting and the knife will point toward you. Walk to the right and the knife follows you to the right. People visiting the AGO love to see this optical illusion. I hope you will see this painting, my paintings on exhibit in August, and the AGO’s special summer exhibit, Drama and Desire (see my previous post). The link to the AGO is to the right of this post.

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Click on title of post to buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. FREE GROUND SHIPPING TO U.S. ADDRESSES ON ORDERS OF $25 OR MORE. This is until April 28, 2010 @ 11:59 pm, Pacific Time. Code is MOMDAYGROUND. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist

In August 2010 my paintings will be exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

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Special Paintings, Summer Exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario - Drama & Desire

I have not posted my new paintings for sale. My paintings will be on display in August at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. http://www.artforallcanada.org

These paintings are available as fine art prints. You can customize media/support, borders and more. FREE GROUND SHIPPING TO U.S. ADDRESSES ON ORDERS OF $25 OR MORE. This is until April 28, 2010 @ 11:59 pm, Pacific Time. Code is MOMDAYGROUND. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist

If you are in Toronto, there is a special exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The exhibit, called Drama and Desire – Artists and the Theatre, takes place from June 19 to September 26, 2010. I was excited when I received the recent edition of the AGO’s journal, Art Matters. The journal included 2 paintings that I have studied. Degas’ painting The Orchestra at the Opera is a wonderful example of Degas’ compositional skill. The image shows his technique to achieve unity by connecting the dark colours (value) in the orchestra. He connected the orchestra and the stage with the top of the musical instrument and the conductor's head. The second image in AGO’s journal was David’s painting, The Oath of the Horatii. This painting shows David’s skill at perspective, composition and modeling with colours and values. There will be over 100 paintings, drawings and maquettes. There are also works by Delacroix, Ingres, William Blake, Toulouse-Lautrec, Edouard Vuillard and Aubrey Beardsley. The AGO is the only North American site. I hope you will join me in viewing this exciting exhibit and also take the opportunity to see my art. (The link is on this site.)

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Click on title of post to buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

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Studying Picasso's Painting, "La Soupe" & My Art Painting, "Two Workers"

This is Picasso’s painting, La Soupe. It was painted during Picasso’s blue period and is in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). While I have studied and seen Picasso’s painting several times, it was not considered when I painted, Two Workers. In prior posts I wrote about my glazing of colour complements, orange and blue (hue). I wrote about the compositional structure, a bridge. The workers are confined in a small, compressed area to emphasize their hard work. They cannot stand straight in the picture plane. Picasso also compressed space in his painting. The woman is bent over and cannot stand straight in his picture plane. He also placed a hard edge at the top of the figure to further emphasize the posture and weight on the woman. I considered adding a heavy line at the top of my worker on the right to emphasize the workers’ confinement. I did not do this as my main goal was to emphasize the heat and reflection of the fire.

You can receive updates of my posts by email. Subscribe in the right upper widget. Forward this article to interested friends and family. Also join my Facebook Fan Page; click on the Fan Page widget to your right. Follow me on Twitter. http://artbyarlene.blogspot.com

Click on title of post to buy my original paintings. Paintings on canvas mounted on wood stretcher bars are $60 (20.4 by 25.5 cm, 8 by 10 inches). Shipping is free. http://artbyarlenebabad.etsy.com

Buy images of my paintings on items, i.e. fine art prints, greeting cards, posters, and mugs. Customize style, color, border and more. http://www.zazzle.com/arlenebabadartist

In August 2010 my paintings will be exhibited at the Art for All Canada’s Rainbow Gallery. The Gallery is across from Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market. http://www.artforallcanada.org.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/art/