Nora Heysen   The Cedars 1911-1933  
  London 1934-1937
 
 
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Pure Colour: A look at Heysen's palette

Impressionism and Post Impressionism saw a move away from traditional painting methods. Traditional painting styles often used sombre tones and compositions lacking in vitality or life. Heysen was taught traditional painting techniques first by her father, Hans Heysen and later during her stay in London.

Use the following artists as stimulus material: Monet, Seurat, Manet and Degas.

Show students examples of the artists' work that use pure colour.

Brainstorm with students their colour theories, looking at colours used and the way shadows can be created without using black or brown.

From the website, show students the following Heysen works;

  • Corn Cobs 1938
  • Freesias 1985
  • Peaches 1989

Select any others that show the use of pure colour.

Ask students to consider the following quote;

You can see the difference in the fruit I’m painting now – it has more vibration and is more brilliant – painted with a palette consisting of white, cadmium red and pale ultramarine, vert compose, cobalt and crimson – that is all. It is amazing the depth and richness of colours that can be got without using brown or black.

Nora Heysen, October 1935
Heysen Papers Ms 5073, National Library of Australia

Practical

Set up a still life using flowers or fruit.

Ask students to paint a still life without using black or brown, with minimal mixing of colours on the palette, and blocks of pure colour.

Level 4, National Profiles, The Arts

This suggested activity relates to Level 4 of the National Profiles, The Arts.

A student

  • Experiments with a variety of ideas and explores feelings when producing visual art works
  • Selects, combines and uses specific skills, techniques and processes to develop two and three dimensional art works
  • Recognises and uses descriptive language and visual arts terminology such as depth, design, form
  • Talks and writes informally about personal observations and features of visual art works
  • Identifies specific features when comparing and discussing paintings, drawings and sculptures from different times and cultures and uses this knowledge in visual arts activities