What was Cezanne’s project and what did that have to do with Matisse?

What was Matisse’s project and what does that have to do with our own painting?!

Continuing with the ongoing exploration of Modern Masters as a source for inspiration and direction, we’ll be working with still life as a motif, first through the lens of Cezanne, and then through the lens of Matisse.

• Through Cezanne we will explore the deeper nature of painting from perception, and its creative relationship to the discovery of strong composition.
• With Matisse we will work with color as light, shape/rhythms, and the meaning of fine-tuning an edge.
• Through both Cezanne and Matisse we will explore the inner/outer life of the painting.

The Weekly Syllabus:

• Week One: A Presentation on Cezanne’s project as an introduction to the Deeper Possibilities of Painting.  Beginning our Still Life painting a la Cezanne and his questions.
• Week Two: Continuing the painting through the lens of Cezanne.
• Week Three: Continuing the painting through the lens of Cezanne and seeing how relationships between form and space start to develop.
• Week Four: Continuing the painting through the lens of Cezanne and experiencing the strengthening of Composition.
• Week Five: An introduction to Matisse’s project and how it was influenced by Cezanne.  Beginning our still life painting through the lens of Matisse.
• Week Six: Continuing the still life painting and focusing on shape, compositional re-working, and edges.
• Week Seven: A 3rd session on the still life painting through the lens of Matisse and exploring radical compositional change.
• Week Eight: A 4th session on the still life painting through the lens of Matisse.

Painting, as a form of discovery, becomes a vehicle for inner exploration and a metaphor for living.