Most Popular Paintings

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 10:24 AM

After studying much this past year and teaching many seminars, I am becomming more aware of what seems to be the most popular paintings' similarities. (Other than the basic art "tricks")

I've turned several of the old masters paintings into black and white and analyzed them. It is striking what can be learned from them in that state.

Perhaps many of you may have already studied this. And this may have already been discussed on the list and, if so, then would someone please point me to the thread.

Would anyone have anything to share as per your experience with this subject?

This appears to me to be perhaps a natural thing and yet it also appears to be a deliberate application of two or more secrets of these masters. Any discussion on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Timothy C. Tyler · 11-02-2003, 11:10 AM

Celeste, the b/w study is helpful. I think another thing is percentages or ratios of shapes. Most really awesome works will have asymetric value percentages. (In other words, if you classify, or group, values into middle, light, and dark values these will not be 33-33-33. More likely you'll see say; 61-16-23% or-50-21-29% or even 70-25-5% distribution. This is pleasing to the eye.

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 12:20 PM

Yes, Tim, you are so right. I think that people sometimes use the gallon/quart/pint analogy also. This is very pleasing.

However, this black and white (no changes made at all) of Monet's sunrise astounded me with it's values. Compare and see that this is part of his secret.

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 12:22 PM

Now, observe the black and white version.

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 12:25 PM

The Monet at the Getty is like a neon light when you are looking at the other paintings. It draws you back to it.

There is something about his and some of the other old masters paintings that has the same effect as looking at the night sky. You cannot look directly at galaxies with the unaided eye and see them, yet indirectly you can see the glow better. This is some sort of secret or something that I have found in many of the old masters. But I can not explain why it is successful.

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 03:54 PM

Here is Van Gogh's color and black and white. Totally not what I had expected.

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 04:01 PM

Here is the black and white. I think that this is amazing but I think that I need someone else to confirm what I am seeing here.

Take several famous pictures off the internet and save them in both black and white and color and put them all on a page. And make sure that they are the most popular paintings of the most popular of the old masters or else you won't see it. I have compared Monet, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Rubens, etc. This is one of the most interesting things that I have ever done.

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 04:26 PM

I think that I have also been struck by the colors used in the most popular paintings. It's amazing how simple that this is yet, I have always just ignored it.

11-02-2003, 04:34 PM

Celeste, I must confess I don't understand exactly what you're expressing with these. Are you noting the value ranges and blocking, or how the warm/cool juxtapositions define form (which disappear in the b/w versions)?

Maybe you're seeing something I'm not noticing. What is it? I don't understand what you mean by "side viewing."

Thanks
Lisa

Celeste McCall · 11-02-2003, 04:49 PM

Dear Tim,
In the portrait that you posted...was that a self-portrait? It's great. I turned it into a black and white photo and compared it with the others. Very interesting!

With the exception of the white collar and the face/neck area, then most of the rest of this painting almost met the same criteria for the old master's similarities.