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Virtual gallery visits

During the lockdown we will be 'visiting' galleries around the world on Zoom.

On this page we will look at a work from the collection and there will be some drawing exercises based on it. 

May 9th 2020 the rijks museum in Amsterdam
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'The Milk Maid' (1657-58) 

by Johannes Vermeer (1632 - 1675)

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Details to notice:

  • The tiles at the bottom of the wall.

  • The quality of the shadow in the corner of the room.

  • The intensity of the blue - Vermeer used a more expensive pigment than artists usually used.

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Drawing exercises:

  • Try drawing some of the details, for instance the hands and jug.

  • Draw a window in your own house looking at the shadows and light. 

  • Draw some bread next to crockery. Use different marks/materials to capture the contrast in textures.

May 22nd 2020 MOMA in New York

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'Broadway Boogie Woogie' (1942-43)

Piet Mondrian (1872 - 1944)

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Details to notice:

  • Mondrian painted this in response to arriving in New York and the music he heard there. The grid layout mirrors the grid system of streets in Manhattan.

  • In the video on this page a musician explains the relationship to boogie-woogie

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Drawing exercise:

  • Draw something in your home or outside your window which has strong shapes and lines.

  • Make another drawing of this drawing keeping only the main shapes and lines.

  • Make another drawing leaving out all shapes/lines that are not essential.

  • Make a painting of this drawing with really vibrant colours. 

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June 6th 2020 The work of Barbara Walker

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'Construct 2' part of the series 'Show and Tell' 2009

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Details to notice: 

  • In this series of portraits faces are obscured. The only information we have is details of clothes, hair and jewellery. 

  • The format is traditional; a plain, neutral  background, half body or head. The fact that faces are obscured or the person is viewed from the back subvert expectations of the form.

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Drawing exercises:

  • Make a drawing of something which might give information about you. It can be clothes, shoes, jewellery or some other item on display.

  • Use a mirror to make a self-portrait where your face is obscured. Concentrate on your clothes, jewellery and hair.

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June 13th The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi and the Delhi Art Gallery 

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'Unfinished self-portrait' undated  Ramkinkar Baij 1906 - 1980 and below: 'Horse's Head' (cement) undated.

  • Details to notice: the contrast in materials. Ramkinkar Baij worked with both the solid and heavy cement, and the lightest watercolour. 

  • In both works the focus is on the head in profile. Notice how in both the underlying musculature is described. 

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Drawing exercises:

  • Make a drawing using watercolour, ink and wash, pastels or charoal using as few marks as possible. Make your marks big and sweeping. 

  • Try using a stick, cotton bud, tissue paper or cloth to make marks using colour and water. 

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June 27th Museo Del Prado Madrid

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'Las Meninas' (1656) Diego Velásquez (1599 - 1660)

  • Details to notice: Is the painter painting the King and Queen of Spain reflected in the mirror at the back?

  • That would mean that The Royal Couple are both inside and outside the painting.

  • Is the painter looking at us, the viewer, or at the Royal Couple?

  • Is the man at the back coming in, or leaving the room?

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Drawing exercises:

  • Make a drawing that plays with point of view. Draw yourself in your room from above or behind, perhaps using a mirror. 

  • Make a portrait of someone (photo or real life). Include yourself in the drawing. 

July 18th Kimathi Donkor at Omeka gallery Lagos and Sungi Mlengeya at  afriart gallery kampala

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'Oshun visits Gaba at Tate's big house', Kimathi Donkor 2013

Below: 'Four friends', Sungi Mlengeya 2020

Details to notice:

  • The stark contrast between the figures painted in great detail and the simplified backgrounds.

  • The dark/light contrast which follows the principles of the Japanese concept 'Notan'

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Drawing exercise:

  • Draw an object or a self-portrait in detail. 

  • Make the space around the object part of your drawing. This is called 'negative space'.

  • Leave white areas or flat colour. Make sure this is in balance with the detailed part of your drawing.

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July 18th Japan

Kitagawa Utamaro 'Hawk and Shrike' 1790

 

Details to notice:

  • Flat areas of colour and black outline.

  • Formalised 'pattern' rather than faithful reproduction.

  • Plain background.

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Issey Miyake 'Fall Ready-to-Wear show', 2016

 

Details to notice:

  • The spiral pattern on the skirt that is echoed at the neck.

  • The movement of the fabric reflects the movement of the pattern.

  • The fabric has tiny pleats.

Drawing exercise:

  • Make a drawing of items around the house, or do a portrait where you contrast flat colour with pattern.

  • Use black outlines.

  • Think about the overall shapes and patterns that objects make.

August 22nd Luxor Art Gallery

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Abo elyoun 'Shadow of the Cobra', undated

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Details to notice: 

  • The influence of ancient Egyptian art.

  • How the artist has incorporated the flaws in the wood.

  • The serenity and timelessness of the expression.

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Mahmoud Salem 'Untitled (The Question)', undated

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Details to notice:

  • The range of techniques including engraving into the wood.

  • The sculpture tells a story as you move around it.

  • The number of elements represented in the work - rock, plant, people and animals.

Drawing exercise:

Thinking in three dimensions:

  • Make a drawing of a sculpture you would like to make.

  • Draw it from several different angles.

  • Think about how light might reflect on it.

  • Think about what it would be like to touch.

  • Think about what materials you might use.

  • How much space would it take up?

Inuit Art: drawings, wall hangings, sculpture, boots shoes and clothing

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Irene Avaalaaqiaq 'Wall Hanging', 2016

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Details to notice:

  • Bold, graphic shapes and flat, primary colours.

  • Combination of felt and embroidery. Felt is not a traditional material but was introduced later in craft programmes. Traditional designs would have been on animal hides.

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Annie Pootoogook 'Windy Day', 2006

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Details to notice:

  • The artist creates depth and movement using flat areas of coloured pencil and minimal background.

  • The drawing depicts a scene of everyday life and the experience of living in this environment.

  • The simple buildings and technology (electrical cables overhead) do not seem to compensate for the effects of the wind. 

Drawing exercise:

Plan a wall hanging:

  • Choose an object with a strong shape.

  • Simplify the outline.

  • Make a pattern repeating this shape.

  • Choose bold, vivid colours.

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