Topics From First Class


Masaccio, "The Tribute Money"Narrative/storytelling painting from the Renaissance, 1400's: Three different scenes from a biblical story are combined into one composition.





Botticelli, "The Birth of Venus": Harmony and balance among the visual elements




Peter Saul, "Mad Ducks", 1962: Compared to something like "The Birth of Venus", an unharmonious, chaotic image




Jim Lutes, "The Welder", 1980's: Compared to something like "The Birth of Venus", an unharmonious, chaotic image





Dwight Mackintosh--considered an "outsider artist". These are artists who are highly disconnected from mainstream society and art traditions. In many cases this disconnection arises from emotional, mental, or psychological impairments or difficulties.
Nevertheless these artists are driven to make works of art out of an inner need. They often have no desire to show their work to anyone and may not even possess the concept of "art" as most of us understand it.
Because it is done in isolation with no regard for culture or an audience, many viewers find this work to have a rare power and purity.





Another Dwight Mackintosh image.





Henry Darger.  Outisider artist from Chicago. His story is famous, and his work is highly valued today.