Have you ever wondered why we tend to ask "Who made this" whenever we see or feel something that we truly like?
Without us knowing, we feel drawn to know more about the author behind our favourite books, the director behind our favourite movies, and of course, the painter of our favourite paintings.
Perhaps, the answer is not too far.
Famous Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh once said, "Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter's soul."
In this article, we will delve further into the backgrounds and history of the masterminds behind some of the beloved art masterpieces in the world.
Painters From Different Eras Who Carve Their Identities Through Distinctive Artworks
Many great painters in history are known for their beautiful paintings and passion. It's a tough feat to list everyone down so we have selected four painters representing different eras and art movements to get the ball started.
The Epitome of The Renaissance Man: Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci is certainly one of the few names (if not the first) that come to mind whenever we discuss the Italian Renaissance period.
Leonardo showed great expertise in the field of science and art. He is a great mathematician, a great scientist, a great sculptor, a great painter and most importantly an innovator who was ahead of his time.
His most notable artworks include Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, where both artworks reflect delicate composition skills, great attention to detail and expression.
Photo by Jacques Bopp on Unsplash
A Visual Artist Like No Other: Rembrandt
A Dutch Gold Age painter during the Baroque art movement, Rembrandt is best known for his application of the chiaroscuro technique in his paintings and also for how he depicts all types of people through his paintings in the most authentic manner, not leaving out any wrinkles and imperfections.
The chiaroscuro technique, which means light and shadow in Italian, helps to create a contrast between light and dark colour shades to present various forms — giving paintings more depth and dimension.
This is especially evident in many of Rembrandt's portrait paintings and biblical paintings such as Syndics of the Drapers' Guild and The Sea of Galilee.
A Gardener, A Lover of Outdoors and Nature: Claude Monet
Money is arguably an artist who loves exploring landscapes and outdoor nature. He also showed tremendous passion towards flowers and gardens, even growing his own garden.
He is a leading figure in the Impressionism art movement, where the name Impressionism is inspired by one of his paintings — Impression, Sunrise.
Many of his paintings are created based on his very own garden landscape in Givenchy, a small village some kilometres away from Paris where he stayed with his family. Some examples include Water Lilies, Agapanthus, and In The Garden.
Paint My Love, My Pain, My Culture: Frida Kahlo
Of course, we can't miss out on one of the most prominent female painters of all time, especially during the Surrealism art movement.
Born in Mexico, Frida painted plenty of portrait paintings which reflect her raw emotions, her struggle with health (polio and a bus accident), marital issues with her husband, Diego and her pride in Mexican culture, showing symbolic imagery in various forms.
Some of her famous paintings include The Self-portrait in a Velvet Dress, and Frieda and Diego Rivera.
Learn more about extraordinary Malaysian painters of all time.
Asian Painters Who Have Pushed Boundaries and Made A Name For Themselves
Now, let's turn our attention to our fellow Asian painters who have shown great artistic influence and boundary-pushing works.
Yayoi Kusama
If you have a fascination towards polka dots, you should certainly check out the paintings of Yayoi Kusama.
Born in 1929, Yayoi started painting at the age of 10. She later moved to New York City to pursue art in 1958. She loves to create an aesthetic that characterised repeated patterns and started a new wave of artworks based on polka dots and the usage of space.
Fang Lijun
Born and based in Beijing, Fang Lijun was part of a contemporary art movement in China, known as cynical realism (玩世现实主义 in Chinese).
The major themes of artwork under this art movement revolve around socio-political issues since the 1911 Revolution in the country.
Fang's paintings are usually provocative and bold, and the subjects of his paintings are usually bald, where he attempts to send a message to people to look beyond appearance and to look at concepts like change and freedom in a better light.
Tyeb Mehta
During the first half of the 20th century, Tyeb Mehta was part of a group of contemporary artists known as the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group.
The main themes of his paintings often depict the dual sides of humanity and different states of the human condition.
Immerse yourself in various painting techniques for different artworks.
Painters Whose Works Have Been Featured In/ Inspired Movie Scenes
Sometimes, we might have come across some talented painters and amazing artworks through movies without even knowing. Granted, the painting might appear in a short scene, play a pivotal role in the plot or even inspire a particular scene.
Here are three examples.
1)Jean-Honoré Fragonard [ The Swing]
Don't be surprised to find a Disney movie here. Remember the scene where Anna swings in front of a painting as she is singing the song" For The First Time In Forever" in Frozen?
The painting behind depicts a girl playing on a swing. The painting is a tribute to the original oil painting by Fragonard during the 18th century.
2)James McNeill Whistler [Whistler's Mother]
Fans of Mr Bean can surely remember how this particular painting played such a significant role in the comedy film, Bean.
The main plot of this movie showed how Mr Bean was assigned a task to protect the painting (a movie prop is used instead) at a museum in Los Angeles but he accidentally damaged it.
The real painting is currently at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
3)Georges Seurat [A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte]
In the film, Ferris Bueller (the main character), along with his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron, wander through the Art Institute of Chicago.
When they come across Seurat's monumental painting, Cameron reflects on the profound beauty and complexity of life, contemplating the fleeting nature of existence and the timeless appeal of art.
Discover more about the variety of painting mediums that you can explore in your future artworks.
Characteristics Of Famous Painters That Helped Them In Their Pursuit of Art
Just as there are masterminds behind masterpieces, there are also master qualities that one must have along this journey of creative pursuit.
Let's take a look at some characteristics that these painters have that you can emulate as you learn more about art and painting.
Curiosity
These painters are often driven by curiosity to be more proactive and creative in their works. They wonder if they can try something new and explore a totally new idea. For instance, they might be curious about the painting effect after trying a new painting technique or applying different colour combinations.
Remember how Rembrandt applied the chiaroscuro technique in his paintings?
Observational Skills
An extraordinary painter has a keen sense of observation, from the smallest detail to the most obvious things around them.
This skill is especially important when one is doing a portrait painting or landscape, where you need to capture each expression, each line, and the effects of lights and shadows for the subject of the painting while combining with one's imagination.
Persistence and perseverance
Last but not least, these painters have demonstrated great persistence and great perseverance. Some of their paintings take months and even years to complete, with several revisions in between.
The immense pressure to do well and also to finish on time requires a steady amount of mental determination.
Photo by El Swaggy on Unsplash
The Route To Become An Established Professional Painter
You must have a lot to take in now as you have learned about so many famous painters throughout history, whether it's a newfound respect and understanding towards their passion and profession.
So, what are the next steps if you are also thinking of being a professional painter one day?
Step 1: Solidify Your Skills
We highly recommend you to have a good start on the basics of painting with an experienced art tutor. At Superprof, you can find a home tutor and an online tutor to master painting at your own pace.
All you need to do is just select the best tutor based on your preferences in terms of your current location, hourly rate, learning levels and art specialisation via the Superprof Malaysia homepage.
It only takes a few clicks to book your first painting lesson with Superprof and enjoy personalised lessons wherever you are in Malaysia.
Step 2: Build A Portfolio and Online Presence
After that, you can start compiling your paintings and prepare a physical and online portfolio. Starting an online portfolio is very easy these days through social media and web pages. A link is all you need to save and circulate your portfolio.
From there, you can solidify your presence and interact with the art community, whether local or overseas.
Step 3: Join Contests and Exhibitions
One of the best ways to make yourself known publicly is through participation in painting competitions and exhibitions. You are letting your paintings speak for yourself.
It also allows you to improve your painting skills and train you to create consistently regardless of the theme and deadlines.
We hope this article has opened your eyes when it comes to appreciating the talents and rich artistry of these famous painters as you pick up your painting brush.
The next time someone asks "Who made this?" as they point to a lovely painting, you can proudly say it's you.
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