The Influence Realism has had on Contemporary Culture

Today it could be argued that anything can be labeled as 'Art' in a gallery and that the word is beginning to lose its meaning. Many people are growing tired of the 'modern' and 'post-modern era' where they can't relate to pieces as there is to much depth and conceptual thinking behind them.

There is now a movement known as 'The Contemporary Realists' which is a reaction the the modern and post modern-era. They are influenced by the old masters, and the realist painters of the 19th centrury and are painting subjects of modern times.

Such artists in the 'Contemporary Realist group include:
William Bailey

Andrew Wyeth

Philip Pearlstein

Sources:


http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/the-contemporary-realist-movement-156836.html

The Importance of Realism

The Importance of Realism:

• Depicted the current situation of life instead of longing for the past or the 'ideal' (i.e the art of Classical mythology favoured by Renaissance artists and sculptors)
• Idealism was rejected and ugliness was accepted
• Realism believed it was unethical to depict what could not be seen, gave realism a moral dimension and shifting the function of art
• Brought to light the inequalities amongst social classes
• Influenced Impressionism and many other art styles, and the style retains its influence of the visual arts today

Source: http://www.arthistoryunstuffed.com/role-realist-artist/

Manet and Realism

Édouard Manet (23 January 1832 – 30 April 1883) was a French painter, his works are largely popular but I thought I would blog about him, as he was an important figure as bridge from Realism to Impressionism. Manet considered himself at the time as Realist artists painting everyday leisure scenes from all social classes. 

Merry Wives of Windsor on Stage

So that's the final big show of the year finished. Man it was a huge show to fit in a small schedule of 4 weeks. There has many arguments, tears and laughs but thankfully it looks amazing! I think last years opera design of 'Magic Flute' was a bit more striking, but I feel we have executed this design to a higher standard

West End Festival

On Sunday the 9th of June myself and several other Production Art Students will be walking in the west end festival. The aim is to promote what we do at the Conservatoire as many people don't realise what we do and our work goes unnoticed. As a group we have decided to go with the theme: 'Fairy Tales of the Unexpected' so prop students are making a large dragon, the costume students have made evil and fairy-like costumes and well ... Jude, Rosé, Rosie and I weren't very sure what to make as all we can do is paint!

So we decided to use the turrets from the Panto 'Beauty and the Beast' and make two good turrets and two evil turrets. We are also going to hollow them out and hop inside them whilst we walk in the parade!

Possibilities and Victory

What another fast week! I've been on my toes trying to keep up with everything! We finished painting Victory and its looks amazing! And we have almost finished Possibilities! Possibilities has been a fun show to work on, and I've been able to take a biggish role on the direction of the look as Jude and Rosé where finishing off Merry Wives of Windsor.

Notable Painters in the Realism Movement

Notable Realist painters of the 19^th Century

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• Gustave Courbet, 10 June 1819 – 31 December 1877
  
• Most notable painting: Burial at Ornans (1849-50)

• Jean-François Millet, October 4, 1814 – January 20, 1875
  
• Most notable painting: The Gleaners (1857)

• Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, July 16, 1796 – February 22, 1875
  
• Most notable painting: Souvenir de Mortefontaine (1864)

• Édouard Manet, 23 January 1832 – 30 April 1883
  
• Most notable painting: Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe (1863)
  
• Ilya Repin, 5 August 1844 - 29 September 1930
• Barge Haulers on the River Volga 1870 -1873

• Jules Breton, 1 May 1827 – 5 July 1906

• Most notable painting: The Songs of Lark (1844)

Source:

Nineteenth Century Art: A critical History - Stephen Eisenam and Thomas Crow

Gustave Courbet

I think it would be wrong not to do a post about Gustave Courbet when researching into Realism. Courbet, led the movement in the 19^th and believed that ‘the only possible source for a living art is the artists own experience'

Oil and Opera

There hasn't been much production work this week - just the odd bits and bobs to do for Merry Wives of Windsor and Victory. Therefore we were able to do personal projects in the free time we had.

Bo Barlett, Self Portrait 1996

I decided to start painting a portrait that Gary has asked me to do for a leaving present. It is a self portrait by an american artist called Bo Barlett. As I have never worked with oil paints I thought I would try and use them to challenge myself.

Under Layer done in Acrylics

I was pretty nervous when I started to use the oil paints at first, however I am really enjoying them and much prefer them to acrylics. They give a nicer high quality finish, blend really easily and if you make a mistake it's much more forgiving then acrylics as it takes forever to try. I've only worked on it for two days so still have a bit to go!

Stage I am at so far

We also had a paintcall on Friday nights, we got a lot done but there was a few things in the list we didn't manage to do. I have to say the set looks pretty amazing, I think it is one of my favourite designs I have worked on during my 3 years at RCS.

Merry Wives of Windsor