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:

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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?

      Delete
    2. 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.

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

      Delete
    4. 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.

      Delete
    5. Especially Kellogg; her head looks pasted on.

      Delete
  2. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  5. 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.

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

      Delete
  6. 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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel exactly the same about how others see things.

      Delete
  8. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
    2. 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.

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...