To the Moon and Back

 In real life a full moon can look like this:

 And the moon can look different as it changes:

In art the moon can look a lot of different ways. Part of art is "interpretation", which means people can see things many different ways. No one way is right or wrong. It's just different. And you may find you like some "interpretations" more than others. And that is just fine. 

The moon is hiding behind the clouds, but also looks kind of like the glow of the streetlamp. 

 

New York With Moon - Georgia O'Keeffe

In this painting the moon helps frame the flowers.

Autumn Flowers in Front of Full Moon - Hiroshige

The moon is high up in the sky, and the bunnies are looking up to see it.

Rabbits Under Moon - Hiroshige

These paintings are interpretations of the moon. They don't look like the real life moon, but they have a round circle which the artist uses as the moon. This is called abstract, which means something doesn't have to look like it does in real life. But if you look at it, you may get a feeling of what it is even if it doesn't look like the real life thing.

Green Sea Moon - John Hoyland (2006)

Blue Moon - John Hoyland (2006)

 

 Vincent's Moon - John Hoyland (2007)

Moon's Milk - John Hoyland (2009)

These paintings are abstract as well. Can you see where the artist put the moon?

 

 Fire Full Moon - Paul Klee (1933)

 

Full Moon - Paul Klee (1919)

Even though we can't see the faces of the boy and girl, you know they are looking at the moon. 

Do you think they're smiling? Do you think they're talking? What would they talk about?

Boy and Girl Gazing at the Moon - Norman Rockwell (1926)

These paintings have big full moons in the sky above nature scenes. 

They are dark colors which can make people think of night time.

Grasshopper and Fool Moon - Ohara Koson (1910)

 

Cherry on a Moonlit Night - Ohara Koson (1932)

These paintings are dark as well and there are a lot of shadows. The moon is very bright. It might almost look like the sun if the rest of the painting wasn't dark to make you think of night time.

Moonlight Study at Millbank - William Turner (1797)

Fishermen at Sea - William Turner (1796)

Dog Gone It! (Man's Best Friend in Art)

Dogs are called "mans best friend" and often times in paintings, they can be a symbol for friendship. They can also mean guidance, protection, loyalty, or faithfulness. 

Dogs have been around a long time. Even hundreds of years ago humans and dogs were buddies.

This is a painting done on a cave a very long time ago
showing a hunter and his dog.

In other pieces of art done a long time ago, dogs are shown to.

Like in mosaics (pictures made up of tiny pieces, like a puzzle)

and stone carving.

Dog Mosaic at the Olearie Exhibit – Rome, Italy

Cave Canem – Mosaic dog – Pompeii, Italy

 Link to color this online on Enchanted Learning website

 

Assyrian carving

And since dogs are called "mans best friend", they are often

shown with people as their friends.

A Girl - David Burliuk

 

 A Ride Through Water

 

Dog 3-Briton Riviere

 

Tahitian Pastorale - Paul Gaugin (1898)

Sara With Her Dog - Mary Cassatt

 

Costume Design - Woman Dressed in Black With Furs, Hat,

 and Dog On A Lead -Erte

 

The Watermelon - Grace Hudson

Boy With A Dog - Pablo Picasso (1905)

And sometimes a dog's buddy doesn't have to be a person.

Doubtful Crumbs - Edwin Henry Landseer (1858)

At The Stables - Edgar Degas

 

Sometimes dogs will get their very own pictures painted.

A Sleeping Dog With Terracotta-Pot - Gerrit Dou (1650)

Head Of A Dog - Edouard Manet (1876)

 

Loup-Garou -  George Rodrigue (1991)

Study Of A Dog - Jean Leon Gerome

And sometimes pictures of dogs might seem a little weird or different. But there are many different ways to show things in art.

Dog Barking At the Moon - Joan Miro (Joan=Juan)

Portrait Of Maurice - Andy Warhol (1976)

This painting is called "His Master's Voice" and shows a

dog listening to his owner's voice on an old record player.

 

This painting call  "Their Master's Voice" by Michael Sowa shows A LOT of dogs listening to an old record player.

Little Dog's Rock - Jacek Yerka

Do you see the dog in the rocks?

And it's not just pictures. Puppies and dogs can be made into sculpture to.

Puppy" by Jeff Koons is 43 feet high and made of flowers!

 

Balloon Dog is 10 feet high!

He is made of stainless steel.

(Note to parents: If you Google Jeff Koons, be aware he has some racy pieces that may come up. It's not all puppies and kittens.)