Help with a Van Gogh's painting?? self portrait.?

Question

http://www.vggallery.com/painting/p_0296.htm

I really need a description for this painting and I have some things down but I'm not sure about other things...

has the paint been applied smoothly or roughly?

also anything you could tell me about the colours and the tones and what feeling do they create?

anything else about the painting you can tell me would be highly appreciated!!

thanks!

Answer 1

Have you done any research on your own yet?  If you had you would have most, if not all, of the answers you could possibly need.   You can read almost anything you might need to know here . . . it will only take you a little time for your assignment!  http://www.vangoghgallery.com/

Now look at the painting . . . compare it to this one done by Sandys http://www.sandys.norfolk.gov.uk/reduced...

Which one looks smoother?  Which one seems to have heavier paint application?   Here is another Van Gogh self-portrait  http://z.about.com/d/painting/1/0/L/T/1/... . . . do you see the similarities?   Van Gogh was known for how he applied the paint to the canvas . . . a little reading and you will know!

As far as the colors and tones . . . and what feeling they create . . . YOU have responses to color.  I know you do.  You pick clothing, stuff for your room, probably even school supplies by the color they are and how that makes you feel.  So, when you look at this portrait, you certainly can speak with some expertise about the colors!  And as far as tone . . . that can mean the mood of the piece, or the level of excitement, or whether there is high contrast or not . . . or if the colors are high key (bright like straight from the tube or toned down, muted) or low key.  And after you figure out the colors and tones, you tell me how those colors make you feel.  If you need to, try to  imagine those colors in something other than a portrait of a dead artist . . . like a landscape, or even a room in your home.  How do those colors make you feel?  

By now you should be able to talk about both this painting and Van Gogh with much more specific detail and knowledge . . . and that makes you a budding art expert!!!  

I knew you could do it!

Answer 2

i can't see the picture but i agree with your other answerer.  you can't get any better at writing about art without practice. don't feel pressured.  just start writing down what you think about the work.  anything that comes to mind.  of course it also helps if you have done some reading about the artist and his style.  by then you should have the answers to all of your questions.