1. Non Realistic Representation!

bit of a mouthful but all I mean is that there are ways of drawing and painting where you can recognise the subject, objects people landscape etc, but it is not done in a photographically realistic way. Mimetic is the fancy art word for when artists try and mimic what they see.

For the last 100 years and more artists have found different ways .to depict their subject.

One of the big experiments in a new way of representing things was CUBISM

I am severely simplify,so please do your own reading if you want, but for us I will simplify it to two main ideas

1. the picture is flat, old artists tried and were actually very good at making their art look 3D

Modern artists began to question this, shouldn't we stop pretending a painting or drawing is flat, and make our art fit that flatness?

Secondly Cubism acknowledges that when we look at something or someone we usually look at it from different viewpoints to get a better look, Cubism often tried to fit 2 or more viewpoints in the same picture. The results could look a bit odd or very broken up in to lots of fragments.

I AM NOT SURE WHERE THE PICTURES WILL END UP, PERHAPS I WILL POST SOME SEPARATELY SO AS NOT TO CONFUSE, HERE ARE THREE EXAMPLES ONE A TRADITIONAL STILL LIFE, REALISM, THE OTHER SIMILAR SUBJECT BY GEORGES BRAQUE CUBIST, THEN ANOTHER MORE COMPLEX STILL LIFE WHERE THE PICTURE IS FRAGMENTED ALMOST LIKE A BROKEN MIRROR.

Cubists sometimes added collage in fact I think they were credited with its invention.

I think the Cubists Picasso and Braque invented it, were playing; playing seriously, but still playing with new ideas.

 

2.

Still life seems a good subject to start with if you want to try Cubism.

There are a few ways of doing it, but first look at a fair bit of proper Cubism to get the feel if the look so to speak.

Set up a still life and sketch it but every now and then change position and try and incorporate 2 or 3 views in one. Not easy!

You could make it slightly easier by photographing it from 2 or 3 viewpoints printing them off and using them.

You may actually find it easier after a few sketches just to invent a picture from the memory of the subject .

IF YOU WANT TO TRY THE MORE COMPLEX FORM OF CUBISM YOU COULD PRINT SEVERAL PICTURES CUT THEM UP AND ASSEMBLE THEM IN A FRAGMENTED WAY, AND DRAW/PAINT FROM THAT. SEE MY EXAMPLE.

I will also ad some modern artists whose work is at least a bit Cubist. so
4 of mine including the cut up photos, one by Mark Leach, a pastel, the second by Sue Fitzgerald.

keep it light, obviously we are doing art leisurely, so this is just a chance for a taste of other kinds or styles of art.

Have fun!