2. Georgia O’Keefe is an
important figure in
American art from the
1920s.
She challenged many
artistic conventions of
her time by
abstracting subjects
she painted from life.
Georgia O’Keefe, Abstraction 1919
5. By examining
common, often
natural objects
from interesting
perspectives and
using unusual
compositions she
both painted from
life and abstracted
her subjects.
Georgia O’Keefe, Dark Abstraction
1924
7. In this piece she both
simplifies the form and
presents a view from
below.
She carefully uses the
entire composition space
to create interest and
abstraction.
Georgia O’Keefe, City Night 1926
19. Georgia O’Keefe, Grey Hills II 1936
Notice how similar this painting is to her close-up flower
paintings. The lines and the shadows of the hills in this
painting relate to the lines and shadows in her previous
paintings. This is accomplished by allowing the landscape
to use the page in the same way that the flowers do.
22. This composition
makes this pelvis
bone seem
otherworldly and
abstract, but notice
how well observed
the shadows and
surfaces are.
Georgia O’Keefe, Pelvis Bone II
1944
23. Georgia O’Keefe, Pelvis with Shadows and the Moon 1943
This pelvis also feels abstract, but the attention to tonal shifts in the
shadows is key-- this is a well observed still life!
27. Abstraction Through Observation: In
Class Assignment
For the next two classes you will work on S an
accurate drawing from life that manages to
abstract the subject through composition, scale,
and perspective.
You may pick an object I provide, or find
something in nature outside of the classroom.
Using your white or grey paper, you will spend
this class and Thursday working on this drawing
in the medium of your choice.
Although we are abstracting these objects we
are only doing so through composition and
perspective-- the drawing should be an
accurate representation of the portion of the
object you choose to draw.