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The Influence Of Artists Upon Other Artists

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The Influence Of Artists Upon Other Artists

Welcome to another Art Blog. My name is Veronica Huacuja. I’m a plastic artist, and an online art teacher. I’ve some good tips for your painting process.

LET’S PORTRAY A CHARACTER THAT “SPEAKS” TO THE OBSERVER. To do so, let’s learn from one of the maximum exponents of the Spanish Baroque. (1) I’m talking about the impressive portraitist, Diego Velázquez (1599-1660, Spain) (2), and one of his masterpieces, “Juan de Pareja”, (3) in which Velázquez portrayed his model in a lofty attitude, almost “making him speak”.

SOME INTERESTING HISTORICAL DETAILS. Velázquez made up this piece while travelling to Rome, Italy to paint his historical model, Pope Innocent X, one of the most powerful man in Europe. This artist did this trip in company with his art assistant and slave, Juan de Pareja, who was a very talented painter himself. The painter made up the piece “Juan de Pareja” to practice beforehand making the masterpiece, “Portrait of Pope Innocent X”. (4) This is because he hadn’t touched the brushes since some months before.

One important detail of the relationship between Velázquez and Juan de Pareja: in 1654, Velázquez liberated him from bondage. He must have recognized de Pareja’s artistic talent, and, for sure, besides their established relationship, they must have been friends.

A TECHNICAL COMMENT. In “Juan de Pareja” we find the following elements: composition, gesture, pose, and dramatic lighting (chiaroscuro). These elements help to get to the core of whatever story any artist wants to communicate to the viewer.

I used these elements in the following artwork:

Title: Head Study 3
Artist: Veronica Huacuja
Medium: Oil on paper
Size: 24 x 32 x 0.1 cm
Year: 2017
Collection: Portraits

MY EXPERIENCE DOING THIS ARTWORK. I applied the aforementioned elements to the piece, hoping my character "speaks" to the observer:

• Composition. Is the way we dispose the elements on the surface of a painting. This element introduces the observer into the painting itself, and across the entire surface.

• Pose. Is the particular attitude or stance that the model assumes by itself or by the artist’s guidance.

• Gesture. Is an emotional state that is expressed by the character.

• The lighting in chiaroscuro. “Is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition”. (5)

LET’S MAKE A MEANINGFUL REFLECTION FROM THE ABOVE. After the astonishment we might experience getting to know the artwork of prominent artists of all times, we can analyze their work and use their concepts, techniques, etc. in our own work.

Please write your opinions in the comment section. It will generate a very interesting dialogue.

Last, if you find this work interesting and helpful, please FOLLOW my FAA feed (https://veronica-huacuja.pixels.com). Thank you!

Visit any time:

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I offer an ONLINE PAINTING PROGRAM for company groups or individuals at https://veronica.mx/online_painting_course

Thank you for reading.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Baroque_painting

2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_Vel%C3%A1zquez

3 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437869

4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Innocent_X

5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro

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