Course work: Smoothed the background grey and worked a bit more on the drapery, then used another mixture of all three colors for the flat tone on the objects. I’m not satisfied with this, but I don’t know what else to do to it.
Reading and theoretical studies:
Stephanie D’Allesandro and John Elderfield Matisse: Radical Invention 1913-1917
The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 2010
Pp. 178-195
Having encountered several references to the influence of Bergson’s philosophy upon artists in two of the books I am currently reading, I took some “off the clock” time this afternoon to look into it. On the basis of my admittedly limited overview, it appears that the major components of his philosophy are his ideas of time and of knowledge. I see little value in differentiating between “pure” time and “mathematical” time: describing perception of time as “subjective” or “objective” seems quite sufficient, and requires no additional definitions. Nor can I agree that there is an inherent superiority of intuitive knowledge over intellectual knowledge (although this seems an argument that many reluctant students would willingly embrace!). One assumes that Bergson’s speeches and publications must have been sufficiently dynamic to make his ideas sound original and exciting, but I remain unconvinced (I suppose that my personal philosophy would be best described as skeptical pragmatism.)
Sketchbook work:
A page of gestures of hummingbirds…almost an impossible task. Seldom are they still for as much as two seconds. Even using a reasonably good camera, I have had only limited success in eleven years of attempts at photographing them.
Weekly reflections on learning experience: Working with acrylics requires my developing a new mindset and a new approach: acrylics do not permit the leisurely contemplative approach that oils, with their easy blending and “when in doubt, scrape it out,” allow. With acrylics, one must approach the subject boldly, accept less-than-perfect blending, and learn to love brush-marks. I find the darkening of color upon drying disconcerting, and difficult to plan for. Experience is the only cure for these problems.
My reading and theoretical studies are progressing satisfactorily. I need to work more in my sketchbook; this seems harder to do than it was when I was working on the drawing course.
Time today: 2 hours 20 minutes
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