I felt that one of the best ways to understand energy in art would be to look at the ways in which other artists portray energy in their artwork. For this reason, while on holiday, I went to the National Museum Cardiff and the National Gallery in London to analyse the artwork which I felt portrayed the most energy. I also looked into the work of artists I had seen in books rather than in galleries in order to broaden my range of research.
The Beacon Light - William Turner
Although a somewhat obscure painting, Turner has used several techniques to portray energy without making a clear scene of energy. The technique I feel is most important in Turner's work is the expressive brush strokes used which portray energy within the painting. Had the brush strokes been smooth and blended, the painting would not have portrayed nearly as much energy and might have in fact given off a calming effect. This is why the way in which I paint my final piece will be greatly important and so I must pay attention to the technique I use, careful to take influence from other artists such as Turner.
In addition, although The Beacon Light is overall a stormy and grey painting, there are small extracts of the painting which display a vibrant splash of colour amongst the grey. For example, the beacon in the painting is in vibrant shades of red and orange, this draws attention to that specific part of the painting and gives it a lively appearance.
Finally, the contrasting composition of the painting helps to add a lively appearance. For example, the intimidating size of the waves in comparison to the tiny beacon of light makes a large contrast which causes the waves to seem as though they hold much energy due to the large sweeping motions they make.
Another technique Turner uses is adding texture into his work, this gives the waves a more life like appearance which shows the rough liveliness of each wave. This rough texture also takes the painting further away from smooth blending and so it appears more energetic as each texture adds expression to the painting and causes the waves to appear as though violently crashing against each other as opposed to calmly lapping at each other.
Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth - William Turner
After seeing Turner's work at the National Museum Cardiff, I decide to do some further analysis of his other works in order to get a better understanding of how he portrayed energy within his art. In this work, Turner used oil paints to create an obscure portrayal of another violent storm (this being the general theme of his work).
"The whole composition is swept up in the vortex, and even the horizon slopes to accentuate the feeling of participation in the storm"1
In this painting, a sense of energy is achieved through the composition of the painting which depicts what can only be described as a vortex. This vortex gives the impression of an on going rush of wind and water in the storm, therefore creating lively intensity within the piece. Perhaps creating a vortex within my own art would be a good idea as this portrays energy without actually considering other elements such as colour or scene.
This painting, much like the last one, also includes small extracts of energy provoking colour. For example, red and orange tints are hidden within the clouds, drawing attention to their swirling actions.
Similar to The Beacon Light, this painting uses harsh, quick brush strokes in thin layers to create a rough yet lively over all piece. These brushstrokes also give the painting depth as you can see the individual layers almost fading into the distance, this gives the piece a more life like appearance and so it evokes a feeling of energy within the viewer as the depth pulls them into the intensity of the storm.
This painting, much like the last one, also includes small extracts of energy provoking colour. For example, red and orange tints are hidden within the clouds, drawing attention to their swirling actions.
Similar to The Beacon Light, this painting uses harsh, quick brush strokes in thin layers to create a rough yet lively over all piece. These brushstrokes also give the painting depth as you can see the individual layers almost fading into the distance, this gives the piece a more life like appearance and so it evokes a feeling of energy within the viewer as the depth pulls them into the intensity of the storm.
Fishermen at Sea - William Turner
This became one of my favourite paintings by Turner when I saw it a few years ago at the Tate Britain. This particular painting is different to most of Turner's works as it lacks the recognisable harsh but quick brush strokes of Turner's other works. However, a number of other techniques were used to create energy within the scene. For example, there is a contrast between the small flickering light of the lantern in comparison to the bright, powerful light of the moon which causes the fishermen to seem weak and feeble when compared to the power of nature.2 Due to the over-powering light of the moon, the crashing waves of the sea have been given an almost electrical appearance, as though energy is streaming through them like electricity, this appearance almost makes the waves seem alive.
This became one of my favourite paintings by Turner when I saw it a few years ago at the Tate Britain. This particular painting is different to most of Turner's works as it lacks the recognisable harsh but quick brush strokes of Turner's other works. However, a number of other techniques were used to create energy within the scene. For example, there is a contrast between the small flickering light of the lantern in comparison to the bright, powerful light of the moon which causes the fishermen to seem weak and feeble when compared to the power of nature.2 Due to the over-powering light of the moon, the crashing waves of the sea have been given an almost electrical appearance, as though energy is streaming through them like electricity, this appearance almost makes the waves seem alive.
Calais Pier - William Turner
On a more recent trip, I saw Turner's work again at the National Gallery in London. This particular work caught my eye not only due to it's size but also due to the bustling scene it depicted. This was another work I did not expect to be Turner's due to it's lack of harsh brush strokes.
"Turner's picture is based on a real-life event. In 1802 he took his first trip abroad via Calais. On a sketch for this picture he noted that the seas had been so rough he was 'nearly swampt'."3 In order to create this tumultuous scene. Turner had to experience it so that he could give it true life. This is why I feel it would be a good idea to experience my own scenes of energy, for example, going to a concert in order to take my own photos and experience the atmosphere would be a good idea.
On a more recent trip, I saw Turner's work again at the National Gallery in London. This particular work caught my eye not only due to it's size but also due to the bustling scene it depicted. This was another work I did not expect to be Turner's due to it's lack of harsh brush strokes.
"Turner's picture is based on a real-life event. In 1802 he took his first trip abroad via Calais. On a sketch for this picture he noted that the seas had been so rough he was 'nearly swampt'."3 In order to create this tumultuous scene. Turner had to experience it so that he could give it true life. This is why I feel it would be a good idea to experience my own scenes of energy, for example, going to a concert in order to take my own photos and experience the atmosphere would be a good idea.
A Detail of Rock Valley - John Piper
When I first saw A Detail of Rock Valley by John Piper at the National Museum Cardiff, I was captivated by the unusual appearance of energy within it. Although, simply portraying Piper's interpretation of Rock Valley, the artwork creates a sense of energy using vibrant colours and a variation of brush strokes which give the painting a busy aspect yet also give it that appearance of liveliness. The use of reds and yellows stand out from the stormy grey/blue and so this almost adds more vibrance to the already bright colours. My earlier research on colour psychology would explain this as I found that reds and yellows are the most stimulating colours, causing increased heart rate and other symptoms of energy. The brush strokes used aren't as harsh as that which Turner used in most of his paintings, however, the strokes are far from the smooth, blended faces of Renaissance Portraiture. Each brush stroke has the rough quality of a quick hand, the quick appearance of the brush strokes adds a liveliness to the painting which would otherwise be unachievable with smooth blended strokes. In addition, the composition has a wavey appearance which almost looks similar to the waves of a stormy sea.
A detail of The Rise of the Dovey - John PiperThe techniques used in this painting are similar to that of the previous, however, the mark making is more prominent.
I would like to include a similar mark making technique in my own final piece, for example, I will experiment with the different marks of biros, oil pastels and pencils, perhaps over watercolour. I would also like to try and use my paints similar to the watery way in which Piper uses them here.
Capreola - Nick Andrew
This acrylic painting by Nick Andrew again proves that portraying energy is more about the technique used than the scene. Although not a particularly energetic scene, the rough but quick brush strokes create an appearance of great energy. For example, the use of sweeping blue strokes not only makes it seem as though some unknown being is speeding down the road, but also makes it appear as though strong wind is racing past and through the trees. There is a clear sense of direction within the painting shown in the way all brushstrokes seem to be leading towards one point, much like the vortex in Turner's Snow Storm.
This acrylic painting by Nick Andrew again proves that portraying energy is more about the technique used than the scene. Although not a particularly energetic scene, the rough but quick brush strokes create an appearance of great energy. For example, the use of sweeping blue strokes not only makes it seem as though some unknown being is speeding down the road, but also makes it appear as though strong wind is racing past and through the trees. There is a clear sense of direction within the painting shown in the way all brushstrokes seem to be leading towards one point, much like the vortex in Turner's Snow Storm.
"By the light of the full moon visitors and courtesans are walking under the flowering cherry trees at the gateway to the Yoshiwara, Edo's pleasure district."4 This woodblock print by Japanese artist Hiroshige, depicts a bustling street where a combination of courtesans, geishas and visitors are passing through. The number of people within this scene gives the print an immediate appearance of life. Energy is portrayed within this piece through the involvement of the viewer. Hiroshige "has chosen a low angle, so that the perspective is different and both the building on the right and the main street extend off the sheet"5. The use of perspective within this scene's composition gives the print more depth while also causing subjects nearer the front to stand out, therefore placing the viewer as though they were within the scene. I feel this could be an important technique to use within my final piece as it will pull my viewers into the scene through perspective which will increase the feeling of energy evoked.
Awa No Naruto No Fūha - Utagawa Hiroshige
"In this print we see the whirlpools in the foreground, while the waves of the high sea foam as they break over the rocks protruding from the water."6 Hiroshige created a scene of energy through the use of dramatic composition. Again, depth is used to pull the viewer in as though they were within the crashing waves. In addition, Hiroshige has composed the scene so that the waves curve dramatically which gives them more life as it contrasts the smoother lines of the calm background. Even within these strong curved waves, there are more curving and spiralling lines which create a lively energy that confuses the eyes. This confusion of the eyes is almost a necessary element in most energetic paintings as minimalism would give the opposite effect of energy due to the calming effect it tends to have.
Even in this print, certain areas such as the jagged edges of the rocks are subjected to the eye catching use of red. This further proves the importance of the colour red in depicting a scene of energy as it has energy evoking attributes.1 Tate Britain, Turner 1775-1851 (London: Tate Gallery Publications Department, 1974) ISBN 0 900874 84 8↩
2 Tate Britain (2010), Joseph Mallord William Turner Fishermen at Sea exhibited 1796, http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-fishermen-at-sea-t01585 [Accessed 04 November 2015] ↩
5 Forrer, M., op. cit.↩
6 Forrer, M., op. cit.↩
