Activity #10-Mediums and Techniques RE-EDIT

Vincent van Gogh, The Harvest (1888), Pen and Brown Ink over graphite. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art. Washington, D.C. at: http://www.nga.gov/.

In Mark Getlein's Living with Art - Chapter Six, the medium that applies to Van Gogh's "The Harvest" is drawing on paper. Van Gogh used a "quill pen which is made from the tail or wing feathers of the goose, swan, and crow that has the tip of the feather cut with a penknife to a fine or broad point" to employ his style or, technique of dynamic broad brushstrokes. This technique seems to have created a rough field texture in the wheat field and a smooth surface for the road that draws attention up the center toward the town in this massive composition. Van Gogh uses this technique in a variety of different sizes of straight lines build value or a degree of lightness to this landscape in linear perspective to the distant foreground which is further away in an area thickly colored with brown ink. (courtesy: www.metamuseum.org/explore/van_gogh/glossary.html) Drawing is a personal expression and considered intimate and many artists had no intention of considering a drawing a final work. Perhaps, Van Gogh use of "direct expression" -an artistic term used to describe a glimpse into the creative process- "from brain to hand" in familiar scene the art theme of daily life: as he drew in the here and now in many other similar wheat field compositions. However, the method of drawing seen here is more defined as symmetrically balanced supported by a quality that creates a strong sense of unity among the elements used within this naturalistic piece.

Vincent van Gogh, "The Emperor Moth" (May 1889), Oil on canvas. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. (Vincent van Gogh Foundation). Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. at: www.nga.gov.

The medium that describes Van Gogh's "Emperor" is oil paint on canvas, according to Getlein's "Living with Art" in Chapter Seven. Painting is known as one of the oldest media art forms, with drawing being the oldest. Van Gogh used the cloth canvas over wood because it was a more flexible and light weight medium. It could also be conveniently rolled up when transferring to patron or outdoor scenes, as well as storage. Using oil paint medium and his signature technique composed of thick applications of artist oil-based paint, Van Gogh probably wanted the attention drawn to the titled image. This technique, together with a colorful pallatte of primary colors creates a naturalistic surface of the painting, representative of the outdoor scene. The focal point in this theme of art in nature is the figure of a moth in the center which the artist has placed two thick drops of black ink on each wing bringing all the elements together adding movement value. Van Gogh employs other basic elements of design including a variety of green foliage around the moth and throughout the background in different shades of green, blue-green hues adding value of lightness and darkness to the visual quality and overall natural looking appearance of this work. Attention is drawn to three yellow-green tertiary colored leafs directly above the center figure that, like the center figure, is outlined in thick black ink contour lines. Van Gogh applies unity and balance with a variety of contrasting geometrically shaped leaf patterns in complementary color harmonies of green and red in two clusters of vividly colored wild berries directly above the moth at the top of this piece. The oil paint medium on canvas provides lifelike appearance with different textures throughout this piece.

In conclusion, oil paint on canvas medium enhances the overall visual impact of "The Emperor Moth" drawing attention to the colorful and exciting titled image, in contrast to somber image in "The Harvest" landscape drawing. While using different mediums in his works, Van Gogh employs his signature styles in a somber and a lively expression of the here and now themes of art in daily life and nature in both compositions.

Gwendolyn