Raoul Dufy French 1877 – 1953
Dufy was a French Fauvist
painter. His unique interpretation of Fauvism, was to combine it with a more decorative aesthetic. It's been said that he never painted a sad picture, preferring to express the most optimistic aspects of the twentieth century with wit and style. His use of spontaneous, expressive lines and intense color in his cheerful oils and watercolors depict events of the time period, including yachting scenes, sparkling views of the French Riviera, chic parties, and musical events. In addition to his work as a painter, watercolorist, and print maker, a major component of his artistic output was as a textile designer. Beginning in 1909, Dufy created colorful block-printed silk and cotton fabrics featuring the dynamic geometries and exotic motifs of Art Deco Designs often used in high fashion by Paris designers. He developed a colorful, decorative style that became fashionable for designs of ceramics and textiles, as well as decorative schemes for public buildings. This week we celebrated “Ode to Spring”, by looking at the vibrant and colorful paintings of Dufy, and using several watercolor mediums and techniques. Watercolor is not easy, but we persevered and as we always say, “try, try and try again “.The results of our continued efforts were worth it. By the end of the week they were more than ready for Spring break!
