During my upcoming live stream I’d like to continue to focus on colour, that illusive topic that both fascinates and tortures me. Seriously, it’s that dramatic! To catch two birds with one animal-friendly method (please don’t use stones) we’re gonna study colour with the help of paintings done by women. Colour theory while correcting history, let’s do it.
Gwen John was an amazing painter, focussing mainly on portraits of women with the occasional cat. That alone makes it a crying shame that we barely hear anything about this artist. John was born on 22 June 1876 in Haverfordwest, Wales. She studied at the Slade School of Art because it was the only school in the UK that allowed women to attend. Sigh, thanks I guess. She also packed up her shit and attempted to walk to Rome with a friend, sleeping where ever and selling portraits along the way. I kinda wish I was that friend because that sounds like a great plan. They made it as far as Toulouse but who cares, that’s still more walking than I’ve done this whole year.
Her style fascinates me endlessly; it’s rang is limited in both value and hue, making everything look like it’s been washed in sunlight. She also started experimenting with covering her canvasses in a mixture of chalk and hot animal glue. It produced bubbles at the surface that are still visible in her finished work. She started using less paint, showing the background through a carefully coordinated set of short strokes.
Her self portrait is subdued except for the red dress. We’re gonna see how this affects the surrounding colours. I will probably use the following colours: ivory black, naphthol red, yellow-brown (old holland), green earth and titanium white.
You can join the live stream on Wednesday, April 16 2025 at 8PM CET (Amsterdam time). There is a replay available afterwards.
“Self-Portrait” by Gwen John (1902)
