2 April 2018

We explored the design principle of rhythm through the lens of the Post-Impressionists, and more specifically Vincent Van Gogh, whose dedication to articulating the inner spirituality of nature resulted in a dramatic fusion of rhythm, colour and imagination. We practiced the impulsive, gestural application of paint before moving on to transcriptions and finally creating Van Gogh-esque images of the breathtaking landscapes of Vietnam.

Our first foray into Post-Impressionist landscape painting was to practice the impulsive brushwork that characterises a lot of the work associated with this art movement. To focus on the application of paint, students painted 'dissected' square pieces of Van Gogh's The Starry Night, which were later joined together to make a new addition to the wall in Mr. Pete's office. Students then worked in their sketchbooks to create transcriptions of other Van Gogh landscapes (see below).

Year 10s and 11s studied how the Post-Impressionists used vivid colour and rhythmic brush strokes to create a sense of movement and dynamism in their artwork. They completed transcriptions of landscape paintings by Vincent Van Gogh before transcribing a photographic image of a Vietnamese landscape. They were challenged to use the visual language of Van Gogh's paintings to render Post-Impressionist style images of rice terraces and iconic limestone landscapes in Vietnam.