ClassX Video Lessons Subjects Art How to see more and care less: The art of Georgia O’Keeffe – Iseult Gillespie
Georgia O’Keeffe, a revolutionary American painter and sculptor, is renowned for her ability to transform natural subjects into abstract geometry. Her work, characterized by vibrant colors and bold compositions, continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of abstraction and realism.
Born in Wisconsin in 1887, O’Keeffe’s artistic journey began in her childhood, where she spent her days arranging wildflowers and painting fruits. At seventeen, she moved to Chicago to study at the prestigious Art Institute, where she was trained to replicate reality in the style of European masters. Despite her proficiency, O’Keeffe felt disconnected from this conventional approach.
Her move to New York marked a turning point. Influenced by the clean lines and vivid colors of Japanese art, she found inspiration in the teachings of Arthur Wesley Dow. Unlike her previous instructors, Dow encouraged abstract representations of light, shape, and color, which resonated deeply with O’Keeffe.
O’Keeffe’s first series of abstract drawings, rendered in charcoal, showcased undulating lines and bold shading. These works defied easy classification, capturing the essence of nature while reflecting her internal emotions. Her experiments laid the groundwork for American Modernism, a movement that sought to challenge the realist traditions of art education.
Beginning in the late 1910s, Modernist painting in America often utilized geometric shapes and bold colors to explore the national psyche. O’Keeffe immersed herself in these experiments, though initially hesitant to share her work. However, when a friend introduced her charcoals to art dealer Alfred Stieglitz, he was captivated. In 1916, he organized a grand exhibition in New York, launching O’Keeffe’s career as a celebrated artist and leading to their marriage in 1924.
Despite her marriage, O’Keeffe cherished solitude, traveling widely to teach and retreating for months to paint. Her creative process involved meticulous observation and attention to detail, often spending hours mixing paints to achieve the perfect hue. She recorded these colors on handmade cards, building an extensive collection over time.
O’Keeffe’s work often celebrated overlooked objects through unique perspectives. In “Rams Head with Hollyhock,” she juxtaposed a weathered skull and a delicate flower against a vast landscape, casting both in a new light. Her massive flower paintings, from fiery poppies to ghostly calla lilies, captivated the public and critics alike.
While some critics linked her work to Freudian psychology, O’Keeffe dismissed such interpretations, demanding her art be respected for its emotional evocation of the natural world. She resented the male gaze that dominated the art world and sought recognition for her unique vision.
Eventually settling in New Mexico, O’Keeffe continued to explore the landscape’s mysteries even as her eyesight began to fail in her 70s. She experimented with new mediums, creating until her death at 98. Remembered as the “Mother of American Modernism,” her work retains its wild energy, and O’Keeffe herself remains an enigmatic figure in the art world.
Using Georgia O’Keeffe’s style as inspiration, create your own piece of abstract art. Start with a natural subject, like a flower or a landscape, and transform it into an abstract composition using bold colors and geometric shapes. Focus on capturing the essence of the subject rather than its realistic details.
Research and create a timeline that highlights key events in Georgia O’Keeffe’s life and the development of American Modernism. Include important dates, such as her move to New York, her first exhibition, and her marriage to Alfred Stieglitz. Illustrate the timeline with images of her artwork and other significant Modernist pieces.
Just like Georgia O’Keeffe, spend time experimenting with mixing paints to achieve different hues. Create a color chart by mixing primary colors to see how many unique shades you can produce. Document your process and compare your results with O’Keeffe’s meticulous approach to color.
Organize a class art critique session where you present your abstract artwork to your peers. Discuss the inspiration behind your piece, the techniques you used, and how you aimed to capture the essence of your subject. Provide constructive feedback to your classmates on their work as well.
Choose an everyday object and draw it from multiple perspectives, just as O’Keeffe did with her unique viewpoints. Experiment with different angles, close-ups, and compositions to see how the object transforms. Share your drawings with the class and discuss how perspective can change the way we see ordinary things.
Art – The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture. – Art can be found in many places, from museums to street murals.
Modernism – A cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional styles and a focus on new ideas and forms. – Many artists during the modernism period experimented with new techniques and materials.
Painting – The practice of applying pigment to a surface, such as canvas or paper, to create a visual artwork. – She spent the afternoon painting a beautiful sunset on her canvas.
Abstract – A style of art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of visual reality, but instead uses shapes, colors, and forms to achieve its effect. – The abstract painting made everyone think about their own feelings and interpretations.
Colors – The property of objects that results from the way they reflect or emit light, often used in art to convey mood and emotion. – The artist used bright colors to make the painting feel cheerful and lively.
Shapes – The external form, contours, or outline of an object, which can be geometric or organic in nature. – The artist combined different shapes to create a unique and interesting composition.
Emotions – Complex psychological states that involve a subjective experience, a physiological response, and a behavioral or expressive response, often conveyed through art. – The music in the performance stirred deep emotions in the audience.
Landscape – A depiction of natural scenery, such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and fields, often used in painting. – The landscape painting captured the beauty of the rolling hills and clear blue sky.
Flowers – The reproductive structure of flowering plants, often colorful and fragrant, and a popular subject in art. – The artist painted a vibrant bouquet of flowers that brightened up the room.
Inspiration – The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something creative, often leading to the creation of art. – She found inspiration for her sculpture in the beauty of nature around her.
