Saturday, 9 April 2016

Refraction.


                                 

Looking at this two-year-old picture, above, it seems as if Kellogg's head had been pasted onto someone else's body. The same has happened to Wills.

Refraction does strange things; not only does it distort shapes, but also alters colours. Both swimmers have different coloured bodies to heads.

The only person I've known who really used this phenomenon to advantage in a painting is Michael Andrews. See below.

                           

No doubt he worked from a photo; but even so...


23 comments:

Yael said...

That is very interesting. I googled him but shall come later to learn more.Good morning and have a nice day.

Cro Magnon said...

He was a very interesting painter, and not well enough known. He came from Norfolk, and attended The Slade School in London; remind you of anyone?

Maria said...

I'd prefer your pool's clear water to swim in if I were that child. The painter's water looks somehow mysterious. I do believe it's not easy to paint water, right?
As for M.Andrew's birth place and where he attended school, yes it does ring a bell. Greetings Maria x

New World said...

He used to exhibit in Norwich in group amateur shows. He was certainly not famous enough.

Hockney's pool paintings come to mind when looking at your swimming pool photo above.

Cro Magnon said...

I hope you bought a few! I love his work.

Cro Magnon said...

I imagine his painting was in a lake or maybe the sea. We go into spasms if there is so much as a leaf in the pool.

New World said...

No I never bought any.

Now I am looking at the refraction on the computer I can see it more clearly. The two in your swimming pool look like a collage.

Cro Magnon said...

Especially Kellogg; her head looks pasted on.

Frugal in Derbyshire said...

I don't know Michael Andrews. LOVE this painting. Off to Google him now.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Cro - how do you know he worked from a photo - and do you approve?

Vera said...

For some reason I felt like having a dip in that pool this morning. Not the bottom pool but the top one. Not sure why I had such an urge, perhaps because if felt warm and summery and the weather is cold, wet, and darned miserable this morning. We are going to be indulgent and have a lit fire today.

Cro Magnon said...

It just looks like a photographic image; it would be almost impossible to paint it from 'life'. No, I don't totally disapprove, in this case he would have had no option.

Cro Magnon said...

I think we might do so too, or at least light it an hour before usual.

Cro Magnon said...

If you can find them, have a look at his paintings The Deer Park, and The Colony Room. Both wonderful.

lovelygrey said...

I'm in awe of the way that 'proper' artists can capture subtleties of colour change. It's beyond me. Off to do some lino cutting for a two colour piece. I know that my limit is simple imagery! x

Knatolee said...

Love that painting!

Cro Magnon said...

Cor, I haven't done any lino cutting for years.

Cro Magnon said...

Great, isn't it.

Graham Edwards said...

It is fascinating and instructional seeing things through eyes that see things I don't see.

Tara said...

Wonderful painting. How's the weather these days? My husband and I will be staying near Gordes for a week at the end of this month. Looking forward to exploring your neck of the woods.

Cro Magnon said...

I feel exactly the same about how others see things.

Cro Magnon said...

Hi Tara. The weather should be OK for you. Not hot sunshine, but pleasant days and cool nights. For 'exploring' it's probably the best time of year.

Tara said...

Oh, lovely! That's what we were going for. Endless exploration. My first time in your beautiful country. We start with excitement of Paris, then onto more relaxed environs, finishing up in Barcelona.

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