Description: The artwork “Garrowby Hill” by David Hockney is a brightly coloured landscape consisting of a blue road winding its way down through green and orange geometric shaped pastures. Next to the road is a big bright green hill with dark coloured trees along the base. The main colours of the artwork are shades of green, blue, yellow and brown. The artwork consists of straight and curved lines. The straight lines are created by triangles, rectangles and irregular shapes to depict the fields in the background. The curved lines are largely in the foreground depicting the road and the hillside. David Hockney has used bold brush strokes and some parallel lines to create a ‘rough’ texture.
“Garrowby Hill” appears balanced as everything in the artwork is in proportion. A row of darker coloured trees in the foreground is balanced out by a similar sized group of smaller lighter shaded fields beside it. Similarly the skyline in the background creates balances with its straight line running across the top of the artwork. David Hockney creates rhythm with the geometric shapes and greenish blue hues of the distant fields. These cool colours and shapes in the background also harmonize the painting, alongside the repetitive red lines. There is a strong contrast between warm and cool colours. The focal point of the artwork is the foreground as it has larger shapes compared with smaller shapes in the background. The composition of the artwork directs the viewer’s eye along the road through the hills to the fields below.
“Garrowby Hill” appears balanced as everything in the artwork is in proportion. A row of darker coloured trees in the foreground is balanced out by a similar sized group of smaller lighter shaded fields beside it. Similarly the skyline in the background creates balances with its straight line running across the top of the artwork. David Hockney creates rhythm with the geometric shapes and greenish blue hues of the distant fields. These cool colours and shapes in the background also harmonize the painting, alongside the repetitive red lines. There is a strong contrast between warm and cool colours. The focal point of the artwork is the foreground as it has larger shapes compared with smaller shapes in the background. The composition of the artwork directs the viewer’s eye along the road through the hills to the fields below.
Analysis: David Hockney’s “Garrowby Hill” was inspired by the countryside near his mother’s house and his loyal friend’s deathbed combined with his interest in landscapes features. The artwork was created from memory in his studio, after visiting his terminally ill friend in Yorkshire. The artwork has a vibrant palette and uses bold brush strokes. “The high horizon and distant patchwork of the Yorkshires mores suggests the artists view was from a striking and distant vantage point.” – Museum of Fine Arts. The style of painting used acknowledges early 20th century pop artists.
Interpretation: The theme of “Garrowby Hill” is the beautiful peaceful landscape with its fields and pastures. I think David Hockney created this artwork because the Yorkshire scenery left a mark on him, so he did a distortion of what he saw once he got home. I think David Hockney’s view on the world is about beauty and that everything is amazing and wonderful. I also think that the artwork has other meanings such as the road represents our lives and the journey we take through life. Although life can have its ups and downs, we must wait so we can get to the good things in life (the fields and pastures).
Judgement: Overall, I really like this artwork because of the contrasting colours, themes and the message behind it. I think David Hockney has done an excellent job in creating harmony and rhythm in this artwork. As “Garrowby Hill” was created after David Hockney’s friend died, I believe it is very important as it portrays a kind of inner peace in life for the viewer.
Bibliography
Wikipedia, 2015, David Hockney, viewed 1 September 2015, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hockney
Museum of Fine Arts, 2015, Garrowby Hill, viewed 2 September 2015, http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/garrowby-hill-51520
John Lovett, 1999, Design and Colour, viewed 3 September 2015. http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm
Artdaily.org, 2013, First exhibition, viewed 8 September 2015, http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=55355&b=hockney#.Ve5cEyXvPIU
By Tessa Cox
Interpretation: The theme of “Garrowby Hill” is the beautiful peaceful landscape with its fields and pastures. I think David Hockney created this artwork because the Yorkshire scenery left a mark on him, so he did a distortion of what he saw once he got home. I think David Hockney’s view on the world is about beauty and that everything is amazing and wonderful. I also think that the artwork has other meanings such as the road represents our lives and the journey we take through life. Although life can have its ups and downs, we must wait so we can get to the good things in life (the fields and pastures).
Judgement: Overall, I really like this artwork because of the contrasting colours, themes and the message behind it. I think David Hockney has done an excellent job in creating harmony and rhythm in this artwork. As “Garrowby Hill” was created after David Hockney’s friend died, I believe it is very important as it portrays a kind of inner peace in life for the viewer.
Bibliography
Wikipedia, 2015, David Hockney, viewed 1 September 2015, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hockney
Museum of Fine Arts, 2015, Garrowby Hill, viewed 2 September 2015, http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/garrowby-hill-51520
John Lovett, 1999, Design and Colour, viewed 3 September 2015. http://www.johnlovett.com/test.htm
Artdaily.org, 2013, First exhibition, viewed 8 September 2015, http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=55355&b=hockney#.Ve5cEyXvPIU
By Tessa Cox