Group Study 2008/12 : Mucha

[WV.Artistry]

This month's coffee club discussion will be . .

Alphonse (Alfons) Mucha (1860-1939)
http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=598
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfons_Mucha
http://www.muchafoundation.org/MGalleries.aspx

On a personal note, though I have never had an appreciation for Art Nouveau, I have been fond of Mucha's more traditional works. And of course, I love a story that begins as such.

"Having had his application to study at the Prague Academy of Arts rejected . ."
http://www.booksplendour.com.au/bs_mucha.htm


Some research required, but here's a few links to get you started :
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...-8&sa=N&tab=wi
http://www.abcgallery.com/M/mucha/mucha.html
http://www.goodart.org/artofam.htm
http://www.allposters.com/gallery.as...D=4&DestType=5
http://artisticanatomy.blogspot.com/...nse-mucha.html
http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/se...mic%20Painters
http://www.huntfor.com/absoluteig/ga...&whic hpage=1
http://members.tripod.com/~gwen2499/.../alfmucha.html

Art Nouveau
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau

Choose one for an in-depth study, or sketch them all. Join in whenever you want, as there's no time limit, or set rules for mediums. It's up to the individual to set their own goals, what they want to accomplish with the excercise. If you want help, or critique, ask . . otherwise, criticism is discouraged from non-participants.

If you'd rather work from one of Mucha's photographs, that's okay too. And if you find any more of Mucha's photographs (nudes) on the net, please post them to the thread, with a link where you got them if they're hi-res -- Thanks in advance!

There is actually a book of Mucha's photographs compiled by Graham Ovenden 1974(?).









I will probably do numerous sketches from his Art Nouveau works as I go, but commit to one in-depth study of a more traditional work I have long admired.

Look forward to seeing your works, and progress.

Cheers.

Previous group study (November 08') is here :
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526308

[WV.Artistry]

my favorites . .

http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=598

but I like these too . .










a few of Mucha's drawings . .












Museums are also a resource for researching, i.e.,
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists..._alphonse.html

[Sonni]

No one could say he didn't have a good eye for design. Nice selection. Maybe I'll do this.

[WV.Artistry]

Photograph with Mucha's "gridding", and the finished work (there's also a few more drawings in this link)
http://www.goodart.org/artofam.htm



Miscellaneous photographs of Mucha's work :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heilema...7594175674505/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Mucha

More photographs by Mucha :
http://www.mfa.org/collections/searc...l_artist=Mucha

Book with Mucha photographs :
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...eartcyclopedia

[Peter Gabriel Murphy]

I better do something for this one, my fiance loves mucha.

[WV.Artistry]

hi-res
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freepar...7600198405795/

Mucha's Wife

hi-res
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freepar...08203/sizes/o/


hi-res
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freepar...7600198405795/

A few more :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2196037...7603870718806/

[Sonni]

Richard...I love the first two of your last batch and will do one of them. Maybe both since I need the portrait practice. I'll just put my unfinished stuff in a heap, label it done, and start tomorrow. One of these on one easel, and a string of nudes on the other. Maybe I can learn to paint with both hands, simultaneously...

[WV.Artistry]

Sonni, Peter . .

I already know this is beyond me. I get the feeling he was like Pauline, probably very adept, and drawing very fast. So at first, I'm just going to try to get a feel for it. Apologies in advance to any Mucha fans for the butchery.

doodles . .

[WV.Artistry]

doodle . .

[trevors]

I am still considering this so start without me !
I have never really considered art nouveau but I find it interesting but maybe not my style but very decorative just the same!

I missed your doodles as you call them so you have started very good

[Sonni]

Trevor...do the not-so-art-deco ones.

[WV.Artistry]

Originally Posted by Sonni

Trevor...do the not-so-art-deco ones.

Agree with that. Suggest first doing a few nouveau doodles as figurative warm-up's -- understanding his illustration nuances will help with the more traditional pieces.

I posted my doodles for posterity (because they suck), but one of them was so bad there's just no way (double ugh!), but it's still a good thing, because doing them helps me understand a little better the way he draws, getting a feel for it, and I need that before commiting to something more in-depth.

Example, I doodled a quick and sloppy warm-up doodle of this one, then browsing other people's studies of Mucha, I saw that particular one has the most studies done of it -- probably because it's a bit less complicated.

For the suggestion box :

"Dance"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2196037...7603870718806/

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...ht=mucha+dance

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&se...&q=mucha+dance#

http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Here's Mucha's preliminary study for "Dance"

[WV.Artistry]

Had a cup of coffee at Cafe de' Paris

doodled . .

[Sonni]

Well, I had a Corona at cafe du soleil and watched the rain come down. Here's about 15 minute rough sketch. Doesn't come anywhere close. A beer didn't help. Poor Mucha would retch in his grave. I know he did this in less than a couple minutes. His strokes are swift and sure.

6x9 using larger soft pastels to avoid detail, but had to get out the pencils anyway. Might be able to do better on 11x14.

[Sonni]

Some doodle, Richard.