Claude Monet / by Kendra Martin

Claude Monet:

Impressionist Master of Color, Light, and Atmosphere

“The Lesson of the Swinging Pendulum”

By Kendra Martin

Claude Oscar Monet was the central figure of the Impressionism movement from the late 1860’s. Artists like Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, and Monet were part of the Society of Anonymous Painters, Sculptors, and Printers who shared a common impression of the “natural world” and a common intent to break from classical methods. Their very first exhibition in April 1874, and the debut of Monet’s Impression, Sunrise (1873) which depicts the foggy harbor of his boyhood home gave a name to the new art form and to the new school of artists (Claude. biography 1-2).

(Impression, Sunrise)

Claude Monet was born in Paris on November 14, 1840 but moved to the port town of Le Havre when he was just five years old. His father was stern, but his mother was supportive. She shared her love of music, poetry, and art with Monet. His mother died when he was sixteen, and during this time he was introduced and mentored in plein air (outdoor) painting by landscape artist Eugene Boudin (Claude. The Art Story 2). Monet served for two years in the military and observed, “you cannot imagine…how much my ability to see improved” (Claude by himself 3). Afterwards, he went to study at a Parisian academy. It was here at school that he met Jongkind, another landscape artist (3-4), of whom Monet said, “I owe the definitive training of my eyes” (4).

(Poppy Field in Argenteuil)

At the premier Impressionist Exhibition of 1874, the artists responded to the contemporary Parisian culture. Paris was becoming the hub of industrialization (Claude, biography 2). French impressionists painted the town red! They used rich colors and new techniques to depict light and movement. Monet and his friends captured Parisian landscapes and painted cameos of middle-class citizens (Modern Art). Monet was a master of improvisation with “surprising interpretations of common scenes,” creating with vibrant and neutral colors with oil on canvas (2).

( Boulevard Capuchines)

Since childhood, Monet had loved the outdoors. One of his earliest paintings Women in the Garden was painted totally outside. It was nearly two and one-half meters. To manage this task, the artist dug a trench in the garden and installed pulleys to achieve height. A friend who visited Monet reflected that his friend would not paint a single leaf if the lighting were not perfect (Monet 1). Because of his perfectionism, it is said that Monet destroyed up to five hundred of his paintings by burning, cutting, or kicking them! (Claude, biography 1).

(Women in the Garden)

Although the painting had numerous women, and a man, in the composition, only Monet’s wife Camille Doncieux modeled for Monet.

(The Stroll)

The Paris Salon refused to accept the painting, because they favored romanticism. To get even, Monet forced the French government to purchase the painting in 1921 for the extravagant total of 200,000 francs (Claude, The Art 2). Camille’s death plummeted the artist into a depression that prompted him to produce a dismal series entitled Ice Drift after 1878 (Claude, biography 2).

After Camille’s death, for over two decades, Monet traveled a great deal to Norway, Venice, London, and around France. He is especially known for a series of paintings of London and the Thames River (Claude. The Art 2).

(The Houses of Parliament)

Monet is also very famous for a series of forty paintings of the Rouen Cathedral in France which emphasized the changes of natural light upon the building: morning light, midday, gray weather, etc. (Claude, biography 2).

(Rouen Cathedral)

Monet remarried and lived in Giverny until he died in 1926. Here, in his own garden that he created, he was continually inspired. Most of these art works exclude human forms and are considered to be in his late period (Claude. artchive 2). The painter was experimenting with smaller strokes that built up to broader color palettes (Claude. The Art 1).

(Garden at Giverny)

In an interview, Monet was asked about the colors that he used. “What’s so interesting about that?” he asked. Then he continued by giving his color palette: “White lead, cadmium yellow, vermillion, madder, cobalt blue, chrome green. That’s all.” (Cauderlier 1). It is certain that Monet nearly eradicated his use of black—even in shadows. The shadows appear purple as in Venice at Twilight. At Monet’s death, a friend forced the removal of a black shawl on the coffin and replaced it with a flowered one; impressionists rarely used pure black (1).

(Venice at Twilight)

Despite his success, Monet was plagued by depression and poverty for most of his life (Claude. The Art 2). A severe case of cataracts led to near blindness. Although he did have surgery on one eye, he lost his ability to see colors clearly. With cataracts, colors yellow and details fade (Cauderlier 2). His final commission was a series of twelve water lily paintings for a Paris museum. He wanted the paintings to be a “haven of peaceful meditation” (Claude. biography 1).

(Water Lillies)

Monet’s last interview in 1905 was a reflection of his life work. He spoke of his tough beginnings, the rough waves that kept his career afloat. Then he considered his acceptance and fame, seeming to recognize life’s destiny, and concluded after all: “The pendulum was in motion” (Claude by himself 5).

Claude Monet, A Video of His Life and Work

Claude Monet at Work Painting Lillies

Works Cited

Cauderlier, A., Ed. “The Colors of Monet.” 1-3. Google. Web. 13 Oct.

2013. http:/www.intermonet.com/colors/

“Claude Monet.” The Art Story Foundation. 1-6. Google. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.

http:/www.theartstory.org/print_new.html?id-monet_claude&name.

“Claude Monet.” The Artchive Program. 1-10. Google. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.

http:/www.artchive.com/artchive/M/monet.html.

“Claude Monet. biography.” The Biography Channel website. 1-3. Google.

Web. 10 Oct. 2013. http:/www.biography.com/people/claude-monet.

“Modern Art Movements: 1870s to 1980s.” The Art Story Foundation. 1

page. Google. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. http:/www.theartstory.org/section_

movements_timeline.htm.

“Monet, Claude.” The Web Museum, Paris. 1-2. Google. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.

http:/www.ibiblio.or/wm/paint/auth/monet/

Monet, Claude. “Claude Monet by himself.” Reprinted from Le Temps. 26

Nov. 1900. Web 9 Oct. 2013.

Genndy Tartakovsky

Genndy Tartakovsky was born January 17, 1970 in the United Soviet Socialist Republic (Russia) . He left Russia and moved to Italy, and then to America with his Jewish parents. When he was young and still in Italy, a Russian girl introduced him to drawing. Later in America, he became interested in comic books, and tried to draw from them. He enrolled in Columbia College in Chicago intending to major in graphic design, however he signed up late, and all the advertising classes were filled. Instead, he took the only other available class: animation. It was a good choice. He excelled. Tartakovsky transferred to the California Institute of the Arts, a college that’s extremely hard to get into. After college, he landed a job at Cartoon Network thanks to a friend from school. Since then, he has participated in the making of many shows, and is best known for the shows that he made and produced on Cartoon Network, such as Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars (the five-minute shorts, not the TV series or the movie), and more recently, Sym-Bionic Titan.

Dexter's Laboratory — Dexter’s Laboratory

"Star Wars: Clone Wars" — “Star Wars: Clone Wars”

General Grievous from "Star Wars: Clone Wars" — General Grievous from “Star Wars: Clone Wars”

In 2011 Tartakovsky joined Sony Pictures Animation as the director of Hotel Transylvania. Before him, the movie went through several directors. This was the original blurb:

A group of classic monsters including Frankenstein, the Mummy, Dracula and the Werewolf who are hiding out in a hotel on the outskirts of Transylvania now that 21st century technology has seemingly made them irrelevant.

Simon Van Helsing, the youngest in a long line of monster hunters. The last thing Van Helsing wants to do is fall in love with Dracula’s Daughter, Mavis. Upon discovering that they are natural enemies, the doomed couple attempts to bring peace between monsters and humans. In the end, each family will have some new blood.

He changed the movie drastically from the original blurb.

"Hotel Transylvania" — “Hotel Transylvania”

Genndy also made a short titled Goodnight Mr.Foot, which was about Bigfoot coming to the hotel, and an overeager witch trying everything she can to make him comfortable.

Zombie and Bigfoot from "Goodnight Mr. Foot" — “Goodnight Mr. Foot”Zombie and Bigfoot from “Goodnight Mr. Foot”

Genndy makes excellent use of silence and mood in his cartoons. Entire scenes, even episodes, would have little to no dialogue at all, but the action and story spoke loud enough for it to work brilliantly. He used the worlds inside the shows to create the feel and action.

Aku from "Samurai Jack" — Aku from “Samurai Jack”

Kit Fisto from "Star Wars: Clone Wars" — Kit Fisto from “Star Wars: Clone Wars”

He uses basic shapes in all of his animation, characters and scenery alike. The main character of the show that bears his name, Samurai Jack, is exceptionally notable of this. If you look closely, Jack’s body is made of rectangles, squares, and triangles in a few places like his hair.

Genndy Tartakovsky is best known for his work at Cartoon Network. He has certainly made an impression in the animation industry, and I look forward for more to come.

Sources:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/03/26/genndy-tartakovsky-taking-over-the-hotel-transylvania/

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/GenndyTartakovsky

Samurai Jack Season 2 DVD: Genndy’s Scrapbook

http://www.luisescobarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Genndy-Tartakovskys-Awesome-Clone-Wars-Animated-Cartoons1.jpg

http://bit.ly/GNEWXO

http://gogetemgrl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Screen-shot-2012-10-24-at-3.49.24-PM.png

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080219205856/starwars/images/5/50/Kit_Fisto_CW_ST.jpg

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/a/aku.jpg

http://bit.ly/15BpWFT

http://www.heroicfineart.com/catalog/images/Tartakovsky_SamuraiJack_Eye_of_the_Warrior_HPLE.jpg

http://bit.ly/16HGtJj

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18lpa96nq8nk7jpg/ku-xlarge.jpg

http://spring2013animationseminar.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dexters-lab-tv-02.jpg

Alphonse Mucha

Alphonse Maria Mucha was born in Ivancice on July 24, 1860. In 1877, Mucha was expelled from school because of his poor academic performance. On his way back home, he came across a Czech Baroque fresco painted by a local artist, Jan Umlauf (1825-1916), in a church. Mucha was incredibly taken by the work and then resolved to become an artist professionally.

At age 19, Mucha moves to Vienna to become an apprentice scenery painter at a theatre design company. While there, he also enrolls in evening art classes and goes to many galleries and art exhibitions. This changes in 1881, when a fire takes the lives of nearly 400 people as it destroys Vienna’s Ring Theatre. As a result, several of the theatre design company’s staff, including Mucha, loose their jobs.

In 1887, Mucha moves to Paris where his career later takes off. He spends several more years continuing his art education before finally becoming a professional illustrator.

Eight years after he moving to Paris, Alphonse Mucha signs a six year contract with Sarah Bernhardt after his Gismonda poster is featured on hoardings across the city. His contract makes him responsible for designing posters, stage sets and costumes for the leading actress of Paris.

Mucha's posters for Sarah Bernhardt — Mucha’s posters for Sarah Bernhardt

By 1896, Mucha’s Art Nouveau style takes flight, and his first The Seasons (series) is created. This leads to his first solo exhibition held ten years after he moved to Paris. 107 works of art are displayed in the show.

Later in life, Mucha branches out into other forms of art such as jewellery, but he is most known for his “Style Mucha” works such as his posters.

Mucha died 10 days before his 79th birthday due to illness and the deterioration of his health on July 14, 1939.

References:

http://www.muchafoundation.org/timeline

http://images.search.yahoo.com/

Shonen Style Manga (Artists: Tite Kubo, Takeshi Obata, and Hajime Isayama)

Shonen manga is a genre that targets mainly boys, which also may appeal to girls as well, for audience typically ages 13 and older. An action-packed, and sometimes humorous, plot usually characterizes Shonen manga. Most shonen series revolve around sports, adventure, or fighting.

One of the most notable publishing companies for shonen manga is Shonen Jump, which also publishes their series by chapter weekly in Japan (Weekly Shonen Jump), and multiple chapters monthly in the United States of America (Shonen Jump Magazine). The magazines also include a variety of articles that go along with the published series, the correlating animes, and any other news that the editors think their audience might enjoy; such as news on card games, video games, and conventions.

Japanese cover for Weekly Shonen Jump 2009 Issue 48

Tite Kubo

Noriaki Kubo was born on June 26, 1977 in Hiroshima, Japan. He is better known by his pen name Tite Kubo. He is mangaka, being he is both the writer and artist of manga. He published his first manga short, or one-shot, in 1996 titled “Ultra Unholy Hearted Machine.” At age 18, he submitted his the concept of his first series, Zombiepowder, multiple times before Shonen Jump accepted it in 1999, and ran for four volumes until 2000. In 2001, Tite Kubo began his next series, and the one that would rise to popularity, Bleach.

Tite Kubo’s Bleach is one of the longest running manga series to date with 552 chapters and over 60 volumes to date and is still an on going series. Bleach is an excellent show of how Tite Kubo’s art style has evolved over the years, and how it has matured. The human proportions have improved, as well as the definitions in the face and muscle structure. Bleach falls under the genre of shonen manga due to its action-filled adventure and comedic moments.

Bleach is the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a young man that just happens to see the souls of the dearly departed. He life changes from being relatively normal after a strange woman appears dressed in black. This encounter spawns a chain of events that cause Ichigo to gain the woman, Rukia Kuchiki’s soul reaper abilities in order to save his family. Their meeting alters Ichigo’s fate, thrusting him in to a mystery filled with betrayal and blood, which leads to war and death.

Takeshi Obata

Born on February 11, 1969 in Japan, Takeshi Obata is a manga artist, meaning he mainly collaborates with writers to create manga. He worked with Yumi Hotta to create Hikaru no Go, and Tsugumi Ohba to create Death Note, and later on again to create their current series Bakuman. Obata also has worked on the character design for Castlevania: Judgment for the Nintendo Wii. He has also become a mentor for several other manga artists, and mangaka.

Death Note illustration by Takeshi Obata

Together with writer Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata created the hit series Death Note. His art style itself is very detail oriented, and is vital in telling the mystery that is Death Note. Death Note is published under the Shonen Jump sub-lable, Shonen Jump Advanced, because of its psychological aspects. It is not the typical shonen manga, as it lacks actual physical action for the most part. Death Note is filled with more of a ‘battle of wits’ storyline. Obata’s style brings each little clue and piece of evidence to life in the battle of L versus Kira.

Death Note is about a top of his class high school boy who finds a supernatural book that allows him to kill anyone just by simply writing the victim’s name in it. The mysterious book called the Deathnote belongs to a Shingami, a god of death. The high school boy, Light Yagami, then decides to use the book for good by killing off horrible criminals. Unfortunately, a detective by the name of L decides that by killing all of these people, that the publically acclaimed murder, Kira, is evil, and begins to hunt him down.

Hajime Isayama

Hajime Isayama was born on August 29, 1986. He is the author and artist of the series Shingeki no Kyojin, or Attack on Titan. His series is jam-packed with fight sequences and gore. It is also very tragic. The series began in 2009,and has 50 chapters to date. The characters and gore are very realistic. Isayama’s love for tragedy really show when he gruesomely shows the characters loved ones half eaten by the titans.

Attack on Titan illustration by Hajime Isayama

Attack on Titan is the tale of humans fighting against horrible giant monsters called Titans. The story mainly follows the journey of Eren and his companions as the fight these Titans to uncover the mystery behind them.