Rembrandt (1606- 1669)- One of the great Dutch masters of the 17th century, utilized the skull in a number of his paintings, specifically his Vanitas.
A Vanitas is a type of still life painting that has a high level of contrast or, chiaroscuro, to give the painting depth and a high level of drama. They depict live items such as flowers alongside dead and dying items such as rotten fruit and bones to drive home the concept that we should live life to the fullest and not concern ourselves with vanity, since none of us will escape death. Cheery, I know. Sometimes you will also see an hourglass or other time keeping object in the painting as well, further driving home the life vs. death symbolism. Georgia O' Keefe- Cow Skulls, 1931
Assignment # 1
Tutorial Below:
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Skulls: A Timeless SubjectOne of the most traditional artistic exercises is rendering the human skull. Skulls have made their way into countless paintings in almost every artistic style imaginable. It is a classic skill building subject that develops an artist's sense of value and rendering and showcases their observation skills- vital for artists in ALL mediums, including digital.
Vincent Van Gogh, 1885- "Skull with Burning Cigarette"
Paul Cezanne- 1885- "Pyramid of Skulls"
Paul Cezanne- 1895- "Still Life with Skull"
"Skull Study" - Mrs. Dopico, 2017
Reflection Questions
When you are done with your project, and it is in your google portfolio for grading, answer the following questions in the comment section underneath your slide: COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!!
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Assignment #2
You are to digitally paint a full vanitas. It must include the following:
Tutorial:
Reflection Questions
When you are done with your project, and it is in your google portfolio for grading, answer the following questions in the comment section underneath your slide: COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!!
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Example Vanitas Collage
Finished Vanitas
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