ophelia

• USE OF MATERIALS:

  • white oil paint base, pencil adds delicate + detailed line drawing of subject
  • thin brown tonal glazes, diluted paint on white base, form in subject matter, tonal layer = base, translucent layer
  • glazing technique, light passes through layers (stained glass window), ultrasmooth glass like quality, depth beyond surface
• USE OF SCALE:

  • large scale (76cm x 1.12m), records fine detail (surrounding subject matter), plant species identified, symbolic importance
  • sense of depth, closer subject matter (foreground), illusion (realistic aesthetic)
  • focal point (Ophelia), large scale, dominant, catches viewers attention
• USE OF TECHNIQUES:

  • observational, careful measurements (record what's seen), closed one eye to remove depth, squinted to see contrast of tone, after measurements detail added
  • understanding layering tonal glazes, mixed linseed oil with paint, measured each colour accurately
  • detailed layer painted last, progressively smaller brushes for fine detail, high level of detail
• WORKING METHODS:

  • worked from life, sketchbooks in Surrey landscapes, range of artworks, completed entire landscape at Hogsmill river at Ewell
  • Elizabeth Sindall (19), posed in bath of water (heated with lamps), many sketches before final
  • landscape painted first, more time (surrounding subject matter), less time (main subject), observational (high detail)
• CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER:

  • Shakespeare's Hamlet scene, tragic death, Ophelia drowning (main subject)
  • Ophelia as mermaid, calm + singing, relaxed at peace with water, weighed down by dress, pose + face = calm, contrast of drowning
  • love of nature + countryside, wide plant + animal variety in landscape, sing song of life over lament of death of river
• CONSIDERATION OF MOOD + ATMOSPHERE:

  • peaceful mood +atmosphere, Ophelia's pale + vacant face, daydream or sleepy
  • river, deep + slow moving, river grass swaying gently, silence + tranquillity
  • subject matter = springlike, rich + full of life, contrasting life + death
• CONSIDERATION OF STYLE:

  • figurative, scene from play, identifiable subject matter, Ophelia floating down river
  • highly realistic, accurately recorded visual elements (line, tone, texture, colour), high detail contributes to style
  • handling selected media, no brush strokes, Ophelia's face = unblemished, high detail
• VISUAL ELEMENT OF TONE:

  • illusion of depth, 3D surfaces depicted, upper = light, lower = dark, idea of light source casting shadows
  • contrast, dominance of Ophelia, Ophelia = light, river = dark, tonal dominance + contrast creates focal point
  • atmosphere, light air tones = sunny days, idea of springtime, contrast life + death
• IMPACT OF SOCIAL CULTURAL INFLUENCES:

  • Pre-Raphaelites, inspired by nature, worked outside, painting shows vast detail of landscape
  • Dutch flower paintings, religious banned (Holland), still life, flower symbolic meaning
  • William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia driven mad her father is murdered by her lover Hamlet, painted drowning while singing, inspiration everywhere