Paul Gauguin Post-Impressionist

Who was Paul Gauguin? 19 th Century Artist Traveler and explorer Loved exotic places, people & things Used color in a new way Post-impressionist work continuation of Impressionism: Used vivid colours, thick application of paint, & real-life subject matter Different from Impressionism - more use of geometric forms, distorted form for expressive effect, and to used unnatural or arbitrary colour. Primitivism used with success: Exaggerated body proportions, animal totems, geometric designs & stark contrasts

Gauguin’s life around the world Born in Paris 1848 Moved to Peru, age 18mo. Moved back to France, age 7 Who was Paul Gauguin? Sailor, age 17 Married woman from Denmark Moved to Denmark when lost job Painted in Martinique Worked with Van Gogh, south France Left for Tahiti for remainder of life Tahiti Martinique

Life Changes Began painting when he was a stockbroker and was driven to paint full time Left his family to move back to France spent 6 months in Martinique after a visit to Panama; Returned to Paris due to illness – His work in the Caribbean was brightly colored, loosely painted, outdoor figural scenes. – This influence in his work continued back in France Spent 9 weeks with Van Gough in Arles Traveled to French Polynesia (Tahiti) the first time Moved to Tahiti permanently

Gauguin Leaves France for Tahiti Tahitian Landscape, 1891, Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Tahitian Women on the Beach, 1891, Musee d’Orsay (Paris)

How to Spot a Gauguin Bright, flat colors -Often outlined in black Unnatural colors - They turn up in unexpected places Tropical scenes - His favorite subjects include palm trees, native girls, and island themes Writing on pictures - Often the picture’s title is written somewhere on the painting

Complementary Color The Sacred Mountain, 1892, Seattle Art Museum

What are complementary colors? Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. Yellow & Purple Blue & Orange Red & Green

Why are color complements special? Complementary colors appear brighter and more intense when they are placed next to each other.

How did Gauguin paint with complementary colors? Gauguin used complementary colors to make his artwork look more “colorful” -- brighter and more intense. The Sacred Mountain, 1892, Seattle Art Museum

Let’s explore the Opposite Colors of Gauguin’s Sacred Mountain Step 1: Draw the Outline of the picture Step 2: Color in the Opposite Colors Step 3: Add details if you have time

Step 1: Draw the Outline in Black

Draw the Outline of the bushes in the foreground Foreground means the part of the picture that looks closest. Draw the foreground at the bottom edge of your page.

Draw the Outline of the flowers on the bushes

Draw the Outline of the fence

Draw the Outline of the hill The hill in this picture helps show the horizon line. The horizon line is the line that separates earth from sky.

Draw the Outline of the mountain in the background Background - the part of the picture that looks farthest away. Draw the background at the top of your page.

Step 2: Color in the Opposite Colors

Color in Yellow and Purple Gauguin painted the mountain and the flower bushes purple to complement and balance the yellow of the hill in the middleground. Yellow and Purple are on the opposite sides of the color wheel.

Color in Blue and Orange Blue and Orange are on the opposite sides of the color wheel. Gauguin painted the palm tree orange to complement and balance the blue of the sky.

Color in Red and Green Red and Green are on the opposite sides of the color wheel. Gauguin painted the tree green to complement and balance the red of the flowers in the foreground.

Step 3: Add details if you have time

You can see a Gauguin in KC at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Faaturuma (Melancholic), 1891 Landscape, 1894

“Don’t copy nature too literally. Draw art from nature as you dream in nature’s presence.” - Paul Gauguin A few things to remember about Paul Gauguin A colorful, exotic legend Innovator Courageous painter Bold use of color and form influenced Picasso, Matisse