Summer Harmony - Acrylic Painting
Title: Summer Harmony
Size: 91.44 by 60.96
Medium: Acrylic Paint and Canvas
Date of Completion: October 2023
Exhibition Text:
This piece titled ¨Summer Harmony¨ is inspired by Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach by Peder Severin Krøyer. It is based on a photo of Virginia Beach I took this summer while on vacation with my father and brother. The beach and the ocean in general has always been something that brought me and my dad together. For my whole life we have been visiting the ocean all across the country and spend each year waiting for summer when we can finally visit it again. My dad taught me to love and respect the ocean and to understand its importance which is why I want to become a Marine Biologist. I intended for this piece to illustrate my father and I´s shared connection to the ocean and signify the joy and peace it bring for us both.
Size: 91.44 by 60.96
Medium: Acrylic Paint and Canvas
Date of Completion: October 2023
Exhibition Text:
This piece titled ¨Summer Harmony¨ is inspired by Summer Evening on Skagen's Southern Beach by Peder Severin Krøyer. It is based on a photo of Virginia Beach I took this summer while on vacation with my father and brother. The beach and the ocean in general has always been something that brought me and my dad together. For my whole life we have been visiting the ocean all across the country and spend each year waiting for summer when we can finally visit it again. My dad taught me to love and respect the ocean and to understand its importance which is why I want to become a Marine Biologist. I intended for this piece to illustrate my father and I´s shared connection to the ocean and signify the joy and peace it bring for us both.
Inspiration
This piece titled Summer Evening on Skagen’s Southern Beach was created in the year 1893 by Peder Severin Krøyer. It depicts a serene ocean scene with two women walking along the shore. The piece displays the Impressionist movement while also showing the influence of Krøyer´s identity as a Skagen Painter. The original photograph of this scene was taken by Krøyer on Skagen Beach of Anna Ancher and Peder’s wife Marie Krøyer. I was immediatley drawn to both the style and subject matter of this piece and intended to incorrperate a strong visual reference to both these elements in my own piece. My love for the ocean is a huge part of my identity and I loved that this piece highlighted the simplistic beauty of it.
Summers Evening on Skagen´s Southern Beach by
Peder Severin Krøyer
Peder Severin Krøyer
Planning
After referencing my inspiration artist Peder Severin Krøyer, I decided I also wanted to paint a beach scene. I decided on this photo as my reference that I took this past summer at Virginia Beach on vacation. I had taken a series of photos at the beach on this day but ended up choosing this one for several reasons. Firstly I liked that there were different object in the image that created a foreground midground and background. I thought this would make my piece more dimensional than just a stretch of flat sand and water. I also liked the small speedboat in the background.
Photo of Virginia Beach by Analiyah Roschke
I started my planning sketches by first drawing out the large umbrella on the far left of my reference photo. This umbrella was definitely the vocal point of the piece due to its size and vibrant attention grabbing colors. Next I began developing my ideas surrounding this piece while creating this planning page. The beach and the ocean in general has always been something that brought me and my dad together. He taught me to love the ocean and to appreciate and respect its importance. For my whole life we have been traveling to the ocean and we both love to spend hours swimming and laying on the sand. I felt this image truly represented my father and I´s shared connection to the beach and how this image signifies joy for both of us. I brainstormed how I could represent this theme and decided that I wanted to remove all the people in the photo and instead paint in the two silhouettes of me and my dad walking along the shore in the distance. I thought this element would personalize the piece more and would also draw reference to the two individuals in my inspiration piece by Peder Severin Krøyer.
|
Process
To begin my painting process I created a light wash of blue paint across the canvas. I did so in order to create a blue tone throughout the piece. This reflects the blue undertone of my inspiration piece. I created this wash of color by adding blue paint to my palette and then mixing in water to thin out the paint. I intentionally allowed the wash to be imperfect and did not attempt to fully blend it out. I wanted the sky to be natural looking and attempted to mimic the look of the sky in my reference photo.
I created a wash of paint that consisted of the same blue color used for the sky combined with white and grey and water mixed in. I then used a large flat brush to cover the entire sky in the wash. The next step in my process was to begin creating the horizon line and water by adding darker blue paint. Next I create the sand by mixing yellow, brown, and some white. I had a difficult time during this step mixing the shade I was going for. So I began by adding in the paint mixture as a base for the sand before adding in more white and yellow and going over the area closer to shore that were lighter in the reference photo. To illustrate the sweeping clouds in the sky I mixed a small amount of the blue paint from earlier with white and used a fan brush to lightly sweep the paint across the canvas. I also added in the breaking white waves using a small round tip brush to blot white paint along a section of the shoreline.
To depict the white speedboat in the distance of my reference photo in my painting I started by using a small round-tip brush and white paint to create the silhouette. Next I added grey paint to the front of the boat to represent the shadow and black paint in a small line for the windshield. Finally I used more white paint to blot in the shape of the trailing white waves created by the boat.
The large umbrella on the far left of my piece was very difficult for me to paint. I began by creating a white outline beginning with the pole. I then began to fill in the colored sections at the top. This was very time consuming because I individually mixed each color to create the correct shade I was going for. Finally I added shadows and highlights using black and white paint to lighten and darken the shades I had already mixed. Next I started creating the cooler underneath the umbrella as well as the large shadow it cast upon the sand. I started by filling in the basic shape of the cooler using red and white paint before filling it in and adding the details and shadows.
I created the two chairs in the distance in a similar process that I used to make the other elements. First I added a light white wash to create the silhouette of the chairs and umbrella. Next I used dark navy paint to fill in the chairs. However I made sure to constantly use the reference photo to know where the light and shadows were to be places. FInally I went in with each color section of the umbrella which was extremely time consuming. I spent a long time trying to mix the right colors that matched the undertone of the rest of the piece while also being true to the reference photo.
Experimentation
Many of the elements in this piece of work were made of fabric. Painting fabric is something that I am generally unfamiliar with and ended up using experimentation throughout the process of creating the fabric. To create the large tied up umbrella on the right ride of the canvas I started with an outline in light red. I then started to fill it in with a darker shade of red and began adding in different sections to depict the folds in the fabric. However I was having a difficult time blending the shadows and highlights together to make them look seamless and realistic. So i ended up having to go over some sections of the fabric with shades that helped transition the light and dark sections into one another. This was pretty difficult because there were so many shadows and highlights but I took my time and attempted to be as accurate as possible. Finally I added a light wash of blue to make sure this element blended in with the blue hue of the rest of the piece.
Critique
Similarities
Differences
- Subject matters are beach scenes with two individuals
- Skagen painting and Impressionist style
- Wispy blended sky
- Indentations in the sand
Differences
- Tone; Krøyer´s is serene while mine is cheerful and bright
- Krøyer´s blue color palette is more limited vs my vibrant color palette
Reflection
The style of this piece was one that I was somewhat familiar with, however one difficulty I faced was trying to match the subtle use of brushstroke in Krøyer´s piece. I was constantly making lines and sections of color that were too harsh and ended up going over much of the piece with several layers of wash. One section I was very concerned about was being able to create the large sweeping wispy clouds in the sky. I ended up deciding to use a large flat brush and used a diluted white, yellow, and blue paint mixture to sweep across the canvas. I typically use a large round brush to create fluffy looking cumulus clouds so this was a new experience for me. Throughout the painting process I also learned how to illustrate several different textures while trying to stick to the Skagen and Impressionist style. I noticed that there were definitely some limitations to my ability to replicate some features of these styles due to my use of acrylic paint rather than oil paint. In general I do feel my piece is less smoothly blended than Krøyer´s and comes across as more harsh and intense. However through my research of Krøyer I was able to develop methods such as using washes of color that helped in achieving the blended and subtle look of his piece. I enjoyed the subject matter of the piece and overall was satisfied with my ability to replicate it based on my reference photo.
APA Citations
Peder Severin Krøyer: Artists. Art Museums of Skagen. (2018, May 29). https://skagenskunstmuseer.dk/en/artists/p-s-kroyer/
P.S. Kroyer (1851-1909). P.S. Kroyer: Norwegian Impressionist Painter, Skagen Artist Colony. (n.d.). http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-artists/kroyer.htm
P.S. Kroyer (1851-1909). P.S. Kroyer: Norwegian Impressionist Painter, Skagen Artist Colony. (n.d.). http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-artists/kroyer.htm
ACT Questions
1) Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
I drew reference from both the style and subject matter of my inspiration piece by Peder Severin Krøyer. His piece features a beach scene with two women walking along the shore in an impressionist and skagen painter style. My piece features this same style and depicts both me and my dad near the shore, referencing the two women in Krøyer ´ s piece.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors approach regarding the topic of my inspiration is the way in which Krøyer displayed elements of both the Impressionist movement while also referencing the unique style of the Danish Skagen Painter group to which he belonged. The author discusses how this style creates a unique visual effect including use of brushstroke to smooth blending and a serene tone.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Krøyer depicts a theme surrounding nature to human relationships through with an evident influence of Danish Art through it’s sensibility and tranquil elements. Throughout Krøyer´s most famous works, it is evident that he processed a fondness for capturing individuals in a natural setting.
4) What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?I was able to identify the central theme of my research being based on Krøyer´s studies and how this influenced his work. From as early as nine years of age Krøyer had a private art tutor and at the age of ten he began his studies at Copenhagen’s Technical Institute. He later went on to the Royal Danish Academy of Art. It is through his extensive art studies in Denmark that Krøyer began to develop his own artistic style and appreciation for natural elements.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I was able to infer that understanding nature to human relationships can vary significantly based on ones culture. The two women in Krøyer´s piece are very nicley dressed and in many ways appear separate from the ocean and environment around them. This may inpart be to Krøyer´s understanding of class and wealth and his lack of cultural connection to nature. Whereas other artists often depict individuals fully immersed in their environment and display a mutual respect for the natural world.
I drew reference from both the style and subject matter of my inspiration piece by Peder Severin Krøyer. His piece features a beach scene with two women walking along the shore in an impressionist and skagen painter style. My piece features this same style and depicts both me and my dad near the shore, referencing the two women in Krøyer ´ s piece.
2) What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors approach regarding the topic of my inspiration is the way in which Krøyer displayed elements of both the Impressionist movement while also referencing the unique style of the Danish Skagen Painter group to which he belonged. The author discusses how this style creates a unique visual effect including use of brushstroke to smooth blending and a serene tone.
3) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Krøyer depicts a theme surrounding nature to human relationships through with an evident influence of Danish Art through it’s sensibility and tranquil elements. Throughout Krøyer´s most famous works, it is evident that he processed a fondness for capturing individuals in a natural setting.
4) What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?I was able to identify the central theme of my research being based on Krøyer´s studies and how this influenced his work. From as early as nine years of age Krøyer had a private art tutor and at the age of ten he began his studies at Copenhagen’s Technical Institute. He later went on to the Royal Danish Academy of Art. It is through his extensive art studies in Denmark that Krøyer began to develop his own artistic style and appreciation for natural elements.
5) What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I was able to infer that understanding nature to human relationships can vary significantly based on ones culture. The two women in Krøyer´s piece are very nicley dressed and in many ways appear separate from the ocean and environment around them. This may inpart be to Krøyer´s understanding of class and wealth and his lack of cultural connection to nature. Whereas other artists often depict individuals fully immersed in their environment and display a mutual respect for the natural world.