Ophelia

• USE OF MATERIALS AND/OR TECHNOLOGY:

  • white oil paint base, pencil adds delicate + detailed line drawing of subject
• USE OF MATERIALS AND/OR TECHNOLOGY:

  • thin brown tonal glazes of dilute paint on top of white base, creates idea of form in subject matter, tonal layers become base for each translucent layer
• USE OF MATERIALS AND/OR TECHNOLOGY:

  • glazing technique allows light to pass through layer like stained glass window, creates ultrasmooth glass like quality, makes layers seem suspended, creates sense of depth beyond surface of work
• USE OF TECHNIQUES:

  • observational, careful measurements recording + depicting what he'd seen, closed one eye to remove depth, squinted to see contrast of tone, after accurate measurements detail is added
• USE OF TECHNIQUES:

  • good understanding of layering tonal glazes to achieve accurate colour, paints mixed with linseed oil, all colour measured accurately to life
• USE OF TECHNIQUES:

  • most detailed layer painted last, used progressively smaller brushes for fine detail, results in high detail
• USE OF SCALE:

  • large scale 76cm x 1.12m records fine detail of surrounding subject of Ophelia, plant species becomes identifiable + recognised for its symbolic importance to story depicted
• USE OF SCALE:

  • scale creates sense of depth as subject matter of foreground is closer than background, illusion that foreground is closer creates realistic aesthetic
• USE OF SCALE:

  • scale creates focal point as Ophelia is largest, makes her dominant and catches viewers attention
• WORKING METHODS:

  • worked from life, brought sketchbooks into Surrey landscape to produce range of works, completed entire landscape by Hogsmill River at Ewell
• WORKING METHODS:

  • 19 year old model Elizabeth Sindall painted from life, posed in bath of water heated with lamps, many initial sketches before final painting
• WORKING METHODS:

  • landscape painted first, more time spent on surroundings less time on main subject, observational approach allows high level of detail
• CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER:

  • subject matter depicts scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet, tragic death of Ophelia, drowned woman is main subject
• CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER:

  • subject matter depicts Ophelia as mermaid, calm + singing, relaxed + at peace with water, weighed down by dress, Ophelia's pose + face is calm in contrast to horrific drowning
• CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER:

  • subject matter shares love of nature + country side, wide variety of plants + animals woven into landscape, sing song of life over lament of death from river
• CONSIDERATION OF MOOD + ATMOSPHERE:

  • peaceful mood + atmosphere, conveyed through Ophelia's pale + vacant face, as if she's daydreaming or sleepy
• CONSIDERATION OF MOOD + ATMOSPHERE:#

  • river creates peaceful mood + atmosphere, deep + black + slow moving, river grass sways gently, contributing to silence + tranquillity
• CONSIDERATION OF MOOD + ATMOSPHERE:

  • subject matter contributes to springlike mood + atmosphere as landscape is full of life, contrast between life + death of Ophelia's hopeless situation
• CONSIDERATION OF STYLE:

  • figurative as scene from play, subject matter clearly identifiable of Ophelia floating down river
• CONSIDERATION OF STYLE:

  • highly realistic, recorded each detail accurately, each line, tone, texture + colour measured with high level of detail, contributing to realistic style
• CONSIDERATION OF STYLE:

  • oil paint applied with such control, no brush strokes visible, Ophelia's skin appears soft + unblemished due to rendering, high level of realism
• VISUAL ELEMENT OF TONE:

  • illusion of depth, using tone to describe 3D surfaces of various subjects, painting upper parts light + lower part dark, idea of light source, shadows create illusion of depth
• VISUAL ELEMENT OF TONE:

  • tone creates contrast, tonal dominance + contrast making Ophelia light + background dark, framing main subject + creating focal point
• VISUAL ELEMENT OF TONE:

  • tone contributes to atmosphere, light airy tones are reminiscent of sunny day, idea of spring time, contrasting life + death