“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
– Vincent van Gogh
Road with Cypress and Star by Vincent van Gogh inspired our project today but with a winter theme.
We started our session learning about the fascinating life of Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous painters in modern art.
Van Gogh’s bold brush strokes and vibrant colours make his paintings appear to have movement and capture the vibrant spirit of his subject. Vincent Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands in 1853. He was the oldest of six children. Throughout his life he was supported by his brother, Theo, who was an art dealer in Paris. Van Gogh developed a unique painterly style while studying in Paris.
He used energetic brush strokes and unique colour combinations that make his work instantly recognizable. His art was influenced in part by the impressionists, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro. He was also friends with artist Paul Gauguin.
Van Gogh’s struggles with mental health lasted throughout his life. Some of his most famous works such as Starry Night were done while he was being treated in a mental asylum. We talked about how amazing it was that at his lowest period Van Gogh could paint so beautifully and with such vibrant joy.
In a short span of 10 years, Van Gogh painted over 2,100 paintings. Although his works have been sold for some of the largest sums in the art world – for example Portrait of Dr. Gachet sold in 1990 for 82.5 million ($158.2 million today) – he only sold one piece of art, The Red Vineyards near Arles, while he was alive. He sold this painting in 1888 for 400 francs (about $1000 today) to Anna Boch an impressionist painter and collector from Belgium. She was a friend to Van Gogh. Sadly, he died at the young age of 37. Art example, Road with Cypress and Star . We used a lot of paint and brush strokes to capture movement in our own works.
“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”
–Vincent van Gogh