minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Introduction
Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who became one of the most influential figures in western art history. Van Gogh painted "Starry Night" in 1888, while in a mental asylum in France for recurring and chronic mental illness. He committed suicide the following year, soon after leaving the asylum. Starry Night is probably his most famous painting.

"Starry Night" is based on Van Gogh’s direct observations as well as his imagination, memories, and emotions. “This morning I saw the countryside from my window a long time before sunrise, with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big,” wrote Van Gogh to his brother Theo, describing his inspiration for the painting. Much has been speculated about the meanings of the various elements in the painting: the moon, the stars, the looming cypress tree, the church in the distance. Please study the image and read some of the linked information to help you come to your own conclusions, then share your response to “Starry Night”.

Questions to Consider:
Here are some questions to spur your thinking. Answer any or all of them, or simply share your own thoughts.
1. What do you think of the composition of Starry Night? What artistic principles might Van Gogh been using?
2. The color scheme is limited primarily to blues and yellows. Van Gogh once wrote that he was “very sensitive to color and its particular language, its effects of complementaries, contrasts, harmony.” Does this color scheme work for you? Why or why not? If you have a favorite image that is comprised mainly of blues and yellows, you could share it here and tell us why it is a favorite.
3. What is your take on the symbolism of the various elements in the image - the moon, the stars, the cypress, the village, the church?
4. Does Starry Night tell us anything about Van Gogh’s troubled mental state?
5. Is this an artwork that you would want on your wall? Why or why not?
6. Several softwares give us the ability to process a photo with a “Van Gogh” filter. How do you feel about this option? Is it a form of cheating? Is it serious or silly? Have you ever tried it? If so, would you share an image you like that you processed using such an approach.
7. Van Gogh once wrote that he would “Always continue walking a lot and loving nature, for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better.Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.” Is this equally true of photographers? Share your thoughts about that possibility.

Links for Further Study:
https://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starry-night.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starry_Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz908BHg55Y
https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/vincent-van-gogh-the-starry-night-1889/
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-starry-night-vincent-van-gogh/bgEuwDxel93-Pg?hl=en
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/modernity-ap/a/van-gogh-the-starry-night

air use: https://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starry-night.html

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magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

[quote=minniev]Introduction
....Please study the image and read some of the linked information to help you come to your own conclusions, then share your response to “Starry Night”.

When I study your offered images in this series Min, I feel totally inadequate as far as offering critique. I am simply not trained to do the job. I can tell you how I feel about the image though and in this case I like it. The composition is spot-on, colour is a perfect choice for the subject matter (and perhaps teaches us something about colour gradients?), symbolism is a bit over my head and I certainly don't have a clue when it comes to our man's state of mind. Would I have it on my wall - yes, if somebody gave me the original or, perhaps, a good copy. As for programmes that turn our photos into Master's styles - can't say I'm at all keen - but I did take an image from my current film roll in Lr (lazy, I know, but it reminded me of the church detail shown in one of your links) and let Topaz Van Gogh1 loose on it. Not impressed - and I doubt anyone else will be either! I shall be interested in the more knowledgable responses to your post and hope I'm not lowering the intellect too much!

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dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Check out Dynamic Autopainter, they have programs to turn your photo into Van Gogh like paintings.
https://www.mediachance.com/dap/plugins.html

Composition ... excellent
Colors ... bold and yet muted.. skilled
Symbolism is ... felt in an overall comment on unrealness of his society/community not part of him
Van Gogh’s mental state ... isolation, perhaps self-imposed possible a visual mind odd connection
On my wall... yes some of my photo modified by Dynamic Autopainter
Software cheating... sure but I direct how much it cheats...
way to learn to understand art better ... I am very far-sighted and taking off my glasses makes the world very differently. With no glasses, even the moon is blurred.

PHOTO NOT MODIFIED

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DAP MODIFIED

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minniev Loc: MIssissippi

[quote=magnetoman]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! But please don't ever feel like you have to have any special training or education to respond to the monthly masters - I don't either! All we really ask is to share your own impressions and opinions. If you want to know more, dig through the links. But just being yourself is plenty! A special thanks for sharing an "impression-ized" version of the church night scene. Yes, a church at night has a connection!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thanks for sharing. As a retired mental health therapist I've often pondered about the connection of Van Gogh's mental issues and his art. The most well known painter in our state, Walter Anderson, had similar issues and produced art that while very different, had a similar feel to it for me. https://www.walterandersonmuseum.org/collection

Special thanks for sharing a scene that is definitely Van Gogh-ish.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

I like this Don - reminds me more of (another of your favourites) Munch though!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I don't care for much of Van Gogh's work. It feels harsh and uncomfortable to me. I'm also woefully inadequate with discussing symbolism. Most poems go over my head.

His quote about walking and loving nature certainly resonates, however. That is where I find beauty and peace. I also think the best way for a hobbyist photographer to understand light (direction, color, intensity) is to study it at different times of day and seasons.

I have never found a playful pp filter that was too silly The "cheating" discussion is boring to me because I feel strongly that "it's your image, do what you want to it."

Looking through the photos I store on my Chromebook for quick access, I was surprised I didn't have more blue and yellow. I have an older winter one I've shared many times, but I thought it would be fun to try to create something by combining a couple of filters available in PS Elements (dry brush paint, distort, gradient layer), along with adjustment layers, masks etc.

Thanks for this month's theme, Minnie!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

You got quite a few components incorporated here Linda! The blue/yellow color palette, the darkened church spire, the whirling geometry. Nicely conceived!

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Thank you minniev, I check out the site, well worth a long look at Walter Anderson's works.

Humm, minniev, as a therapist, what does it say about me that my motto is "No good photo shall go unmolested."

I like Linda's mod... the bending of a considered stiff church steeple is dynamic thought invoking image.

magnetoman thank you for liking my mod...ho hum photo turned into an impact. You mentioned Munch, the most relevant to any society in trouble... The Scream. 1910. Below a modification of our 21 century.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/later-europe-and-americas/modernity-ap/a/munch-the-scream

SCREAM WHEN NUKES ARE TRIVIALIZED

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RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Questions to Consider:
Here are some questions to spur your thinking. Answer any or all of them, or simply share your own thoughts.
1. What do you think of the composition of Starry Night? What artistic principles might Van Gogh been using?

For me the composition is thirds.
I'm not so sure about the artistic principals.

2. The color scheme is limited primarily to blues and yellows. Van Gogh once wrote that he was “very sensitive to color and its particular language, its effects of complementaries, contrasts, harmony.” Does this color scheme work for you? Why or why not? If you have a favorite image that is comprised mainly of blues and yellows, you could share it here and tell us why it is a favorite.

The colour scheme works for me mainly because blues and yellows make for a nice contrast. Think of fall colours against a blue sky.

3. What is your take on the symbolism of the various elements in the image - the moon, the stars, the cypress, the village, the church?

I really don't have a take on the symbolism.

4. Does Starry Night tell us anything about Van Gogh’s troubled mental state?

The sky suggests anguish, however who knows when it comes to people with a mental state (My partner has dementia and it is really scarey when her brain "doesn't start up in the morning and doctors say "think positive" or "I can't help you (to her)".

5. Is this an artwork that you would want on your wall? Why or why not?

The images on our walls directly relate to our life experiences, like family or vacation photographs.

6. Several softwares give us the ability to process a photo with a “Van Gogh” filter. How do you feel about this option? Is it a form of cheating? Is it serious or silly? Have you ever tried it? If so, would you share an image you like that you processed using such an approach.

What ever means to achieve the end result you want is ok by me.
See my "Magic bus" attachment. (just an idea, after listening to a song by "The Who", and implemented by using 3D produicts from Digital Artist Zone (DAZ) and Topaz 2D software (Impression).

7. Van Gogh once wrote that he would “Always continue walking a lot and loving nature, for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better.Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.” Is this equally true of photographers? Share your thoughts about that possibility.

I totally agree, however it is a lot more than just nature (know your subject?).
.

Magic bus

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RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Very creative.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

The bus image is very cool. Thanks for sharing it with us, and thanks for sharing your thoughts, especially with the poignant window you gave us into living with a partner with cognitive challenges. Best to you both.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

RichardTaylor, indeed a dream world how strong the colors are... bold. The day our printers paint with 3D color will be a wonderful day.

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Your magic bus is very cool Richard!

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Thank you.