THE BREATH OF ART

A Creative Project Presentationby

Ben Davis

Student At

Cedar Valley College

THE BREATH OF ART

There is a legend of an old artist, a man of ancient face, yet nimble and sensitive hands who was most respected for his

portraits. His landscapes were inspiring and his works of still life drew

contemplative pauses from all who passed by; but it was his portraits… especially the eyes which caused his

audience to stop and gaze intently as if expecting a nod or greeting from the

picture.

THE BREATH OF ART

It was said that he painted the eyes last,

and the final strokes before he signed his

name were the small, almost

imperceptible “glint” that he painted into

the eyes. These infinitesimal specks of

light were the source of his fame and

genius; yet no one had ever witnessed the

last touch of his brush on the canvas.

THE BREATH OF ART

Even his most ardent patrons and models

were not allowed on the other side of the

easel for those final moments.

Bystanders, he did not allow and any

comment or question was answered by

an authoritative wave of dismissal.

Silence reigned supreme, until one day,

as he painted the portrait of a fallen hero

–

THE BREATH OF ART

–it was the son of an aristocrat who had

chosen the hardship of a soldier’s life

instead of an office of comfort and safety.

During one heated battle he drew enemy

fire so that his general might escape

unscathed, and in doing so he paid the

final sacrifice.

THE BREATH OF ART

It was his youngest sister who slipped

unnoticed into the parlor as the legend

placed the last strokes of the brush. As

the eyes suddenly brightened and

sparkled, the child caught her breath and

in a whisper said “How do you make him

live.” It was not a question, it was a

statement of awe and reverence;

THE BREATH OF ART

…but spoken without tone or voice, the

whispered words took the form of a

petition and the artist turned slowly. His

gaze softened as he noticed the tears on

the face of the child.

THE BREATH OF ART

He spoke, “Before I touch their eyes , I stop

and breath, then just as I touch their eyes…

I exhale the last breath onto the canvas.

As the Creator did with Adam, so I do with

this art. This is my homage from one artist

to another. And so, they live.”

“SPACE IS THE BREATH OF ART.”

– FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

“A LONG LINE OF ARTISTS…”

The fundamentals of art start

here: The Line

“This decides the shape of the

future…”

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Falling WaterBuilt In

1936 –1939

Stretches out over

a 30 ft. waterfall.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Making the

straight line

conform to

it’s

surrounding

s.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Dignify the form,

color, and the line

to create

harmony between

the balance and

poise of the

materials.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

…He positioned

the elements and

forms in such a

way as to

respectfully

acknowledge the

origination of the

materials.

M.C. ESCHER “A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE”

M.C. ESCHER

In 1922, M.C. Escher

began his fascination

with the Regular

Division of the Plane

during a visit to the

Alhambra, a Moorish

castle in Granada, Spain.

Throughout WWII and

during his time in

Switzerland, he

continued his hobby by

drawing 62 Regular

Division Drawings. In his

lifetime he would draw a

total of 137.

M.C. ESCHER

His passion for the

Regular Division of the

Plane was extended by

using some of his

drawings to be the

basis for other

hobbies, namely,

carving beech wood

spheres.The art process of the Regular Division of the Plane involved

taking an element – a drawing, or wood carving - and then

separating a part of that work and reattaching it to another place

on the original art. This eventually created a piece that was

symmetrical and could be matched and interlocked with identical

pieces creating intricate patterns.

M.C. ESCHER

“I am always wandering around in enigmas. There

are young people who constantly come to tell me:

„You, too, are making Op Art.‟ I haven't the slightest

idea what that is, Op Art. I've been doing this work for

thirty years now.”

SPACE & DETAILS

If you have an eye for details… remember… space is a detail

too.

JACK DAWSON

“God Is In The Details”

The artist chooses an underlying message and then hides the message in the artwork. The tone, spacing, and details guide the viewer to

hidden meaning.

JACK DAWSON

Peace In The Midst Of The

Storm

The use of local

color and value

within the hues

creates a sense of

the wind and rain.

The atmospheric

space is

heightened by the

far lightening

strike. The small

bird safely tucked

away in the center

JOSEPH JANSEN

Attention to detail affects not only the line

and it’s form, but also the hue, value, and

intensity of the form. Especially light and

shadow.

The texture of

the medium upon

a canvas may be

just a whisper,

but the brush

and pallet knife

can speak so

well…

JOSEPH JANSEN

Shepherds In A LandscapeJansen’s Use of the Line

TABLE & VASE

In this

photograph there

is strict

adherence to the

line in the tiled

floor, the back of

the closest chair

hints to the curve

of the vase, in

which the circle

is completed in

the wall

medallion.

TABLE & VASE – DISCONTENTED

In this

photograph the

far chair is turned

toward the

window. The light

from the window

illuminates the

wall and casts

shadows behind

the chair. The

overall tension of

the scene is no

longer focused at

the table but

outside the

TABLE & VASE – CONFRONTATION

In this

photograph the

far chair is turned

toward the

viewer. The light

illuminates the

vase and wall.

Shadows to the

right of the far

chair. One chair

faces the viewer,

the other rests on

three legs

awaiting the

outcome of the

THE BREATH OF ART

Introductory Prose

Davis, Ben L. 2013

The Breath of Art.

PowerPoint Presentation, May 2013

Mountain View College

Art Works Cited:

Falling Water

Wright, Frank Lloyd. Falling Water. 1934, 1938, 1948

American, 1867 - 1969

Ohiopyle, (Bear Run), Pennsylvania

House. Reinforced concrete, stone.

Climate: temperate, Context: Rural

Style: Expressionist Modern

www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Fallingwater.html

Exterior Image: joshblackman.com

Interior Image: www.okeanosgroup.com

THE BREATH OF ART

Art Works Cited:

Relativity

Escher, C. M. Relativity. July 1953

Dutch, 1898 – 1972

Woodcut

www.meridian.net.au/Art/Artists/MCEscher/Gallery

Image: www.mcescher.com

Symmetry-Fish and Frogs

Escher, C. M. Symmetry-Fish and Frogs. 1949

Dutch, 1898 - 1972

Pallet

www.friendsofart.net/en/art/mc-escher/fish-and-frogs

THE BREATH OF ART

Art Works Cited:

Symmetry-Watercolor-70-Butterfly

Escher, C. M. Relativity. Date Unknown

Dutch, 1898 - 1972

Watercolor

Image: www.xaxor.com/oil-paintings/1401-m-c-escher.html

Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Dawson, Jack E. Peace in the Midst of the Storm. Date Unlisted

American, 1950 – present

Private Collection

Oil on Canvas

Image: http://www.jackdawson.com

THE BREATH OF ART

Art Works Cited:

Shepherds in a Landscape

Jansen, Joseph. Shepherds in a Landscape. Date Unknown

German, 1829 – 1905

Private Collection

57 X 37.5 inches

Oil on canvas

Image: www.1st-art-gallery.com

Table & Vase

Davis, Ben. Table & Vase. 2013

American, 1965 – present

Digital Photography

THE BREATH OF ART

Art Works Cited:

Table & Vase – Discontented

Davis, Ben. Table & Vase – Discontented. 2013

American, 1965 – present

Digital Photography

Table & Vase – Confrontation

Davis, Ben. Table & Vase – Confrontation. 2013

American, 1965 – present

Digital Photography

Additional Notable Graphic Images:

Frank Lloyd Wright: www.biografiasyvidas.com

C.M. Escher: http://www.mcescher.com

Mono Lisa partial: www.theartnewspaper.com

Eye In Detail partial: www.creativewebbiz.com

Unnamed Art “Man‟s Face in Garden” www.google.com