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Introducing the Artwork I have selected the surrealist painting Departure of the Winged Ship that has been painted by the Russian artist Vladimir Cush. When I viewed this painting it evoked a fantastic emotional response in my mind. I was drawn to the painting as it made me immediately feel captivated, inspired and lively. I feel this image symbolically conveys to the viewer the feelings of happiness and beauty through the use of the butterflies and a mystical cloudscape. In Japan the image of the butterfly has inspired artists for hundreds of years, as it is always associated with the best moments in life (Cush, 2010).
Butterflies are known to be amazing and courageous travelers as they can travel vast distances. For example, in favorable winds, Monarch Butterflies from North America can cross the Atlantic to reach England, resting as needed on the decks of ships. (Cush, 2010). I feel that this surrealist painting is inspiring and I have therefore chosen to use it for this assignment, as I believe that it will also captivate children of all ages. I feel that this particular artwork would be suitable for all age groups, as I believe that it would thoroughly captivate and interest children.
The use of the beautiful terrifies as the sails of the ship is highly creative and this particular element of the painting would spark many discussions and ideas in the children’s minds. However, for the purpose of this assignment I have chosen to introduce Departure of the Winged Ship to a year three level class of students as I feel that they may have a deeper level of thinking than younger children, which will allow them to explore more aspects of the artwork. I would introduce this artwork to the students by simply displaying a large projected imaged on the whiteboard.
I would have the children come into the art room and sit on the floor in front of the image. While they enter the room I would play the instrumental song ‘Paradise In A Wave’ from the ‘Rest and Relaxation’ album. This song is peaceful and incorporates elements of the ocean through music. Playing this type of music will help engage the children and inspire them to begin thinking about what the elements of the painting. I would then start a discussion about the image and ask the students what they think the painting is of and how the image makes them feel.
Once the students have had a group discussion about the painting I would introduce the idea that butterflies are associated with the happiest times in life and hat they also symbolism Journeys as they can fly vast distances. The students will then be given the opportunity to discuss where they think the winged ship is heading and what Journey it will take along the way. After a whole class discussion, accompanied by peaceful music, I predict that the students will be inspired to create their own artwork.
I believe that the painting is a fantastic starting point for a unit of work based on personal Journeys as the ship is departing and the butterflies symbolism travel and Journey. After discussing the elements of the painting I will provide students with cartridge paper and a variety of mints in cool colors such as blues and purples and also warm colors including red and pink. They will be given time to use their fingers to paint the background of the paper. I feel that the year three students will enjoy using their hands and experiencing the paint as this is often left out of art in the older years.
While the students work I will continue to play peaceful, ocean inspired music. While the background of the paintings dry the students will be given time to select natural items that I will provide. The students will choose from a variety of items such as leaves, sticks and bark. With these items they will create a butterfly to stick on top of their colorful background. This butterfly will symbolism their Journey in life so far. I feel that this is a simple, yet inspiring way to begin a unit of work based around Vladimir Cush’s painting Departure of a Winged Ship.
Analyzing the Artwork Artwork can be analyses in a variety of different ways using the subjective and structural frames. I will firstly discuss Departure of a Winged Ship from a subjective point of view. When I view the artwork I immediately see the beautiful ship departing from a harbor. My eyes are drawn to the spectacular wings of the butterflies that I live are helping to move the ship away from the harbor at a fast speed. I feel that the three figures in the bottom right corner of the painting are celebrating the departure of the ship as they are waving brightly colored flags to farewell the passengers on the ship.
When I view this artwork I feel peaceful due to the sweeping, mystical cloudscape above the ship and clam movements of the water. However, I also feel lively, happy and inspired due to the colors and detail used on each butterfly. The painting reminds me of a perfect spring day in the Permanent harbor. It makes me long for warm, spring weather. The image overall sparks many different emotions and makes me imagine where the ship might be departing and what journey lies ahead. The painting can also be analyses using a structural frame. I assume that the artwork has been painted using oil paints.
Oil paints are slow drying and blend together well, making it easy to create subtle variations of color possible as well as details of light and shadow (Art Spectrum, 2009). Cush has used a range of subtle color variations in the water, sky and the wings of the butterflies. When I view the image my eyes are immediately drawn to the ship that has been minted slightly to the left. I am attracted to the enthralling colors and intricate detailing used on each of the butterflies wings. My eyes are also drawn to the left of the painting, as the ships hull appears to be departing in that direction.
The use of the movement in the clouds also directs the viewer’s eye to the left of the painting. Throughout the painting many elements and principles of art have been incorporated by the artist. Cush has used the element of line on the wings of the butterflies and the hull of the ship. He has used many straight, intricate lines to portray to the detail of the wood on the ship. The artist has also successfully used the element of color to help spark emotions and feelings in the viewer’s mind. Cush has used a mixture of warm and cool colors to help create shadows, reflections and add interest to the image.
I also feel that the element of texture has been used well in this painting. When I view the image the clouds appear to be fluffy and soft. I almost feel a sense of comfort when I look at the cloudscape. The texture of the water seems to be slightly choppy as the artist has drawn the waves as small and spikes. Cush has also incorporated the principles of design into his painting. Firstly, event has been used to help direct the viewer’s eye on a particular path around the painting. At first the viewer’s eye focuses on the captivating butterfly sails on the ship.
The viewer is then drawn to the left of the image due to the position of the front of the ship and the movement of the clouds. Cush has incorporated an asymmetrical balance throughout his image. This is because the elements used on one side of the design are different to the other, but still appear balanced (Williams, 2010). On the right side of the image the skyline is filled with white, fluffy clouds, rocks and small figures. On the left side of the image sees clouds are used and the ship takes up the majority of the frame. Although the two sides of the picture are asymmetrical, they still appear balanced in the viewer’s mind.
Rhythm involves the repetition of elements to create the illusion of movement (Williams, 2010). Cush has focused on repeating shapes, colors and the direction of the waves at the bottom of the image. The rhythm of the water makes to viewer feel as if it is pulsing on the page. This creates the illusion that the water is choppy as the ship moves through the ocean. Cush has painted the image using oil paint, as the colors are subtly blended and right. I feel that the artist has used soft flowing movements of the brush throughout the painting, especially on the butterfly wings and clouds.
I believe this has been done to symbolism the departure of the ship as peaceful and relaxing. These brush strokes also contribute to the meaning of the painting as they help the viewer to feel a sense of relaxation. The sweeping movements of the brush also aid in depicting the feelings of happiness and Joy to the viewer. This reflects the Joyous departure of the beautiful winged ship. In conclusion, Departure of the Winged Ship painted by Vladimir Cush is an inspiring mage that children of all ages would be captivated by.
The artist has incorporated a range of elements and principles of design to help depict the meaning to the viewer. The painting symbolisms happiness and Joy and reflects the Journey that the ship is about to take through the use of butterflies as the ship’s sails. References Vladimir Cush. (2010). Retrieved 18/09/2012, from HTTPS://planetariums. Com Art Spectrum. (n. D). Retrieved 18/09/2012, from http://www. Retrospect’s. Com. AU/oils. HTML Williams,J. (2010). Elements and Principles of Design. 18/09/2012, from http:// www. Youth. Com/watch? V=DWEhwp5JgZk