Analysis And Review Of “Yosemite Ii, October 5Th, 2011” By David Hockney

The piece I am analyzing is titled “Yosemite II, October 5th, 2011. ” This piece looks like you are standing on the side of the road in Yosemite and peering out at the landscape. The low hanging clouds and fog are fluttering over the treetops that you are gazing down on. There are purple mountains with clouds over and throughout them. Although at first glance it may look like a child painted it with some crayons, when you look closer you can see the detail. Knowing the media the artist used to create this piece (an iPad) is absolutely astounding to me. Using an iPad is something I can really relate to. My cancer surgery removed my larynx so I have no voice box. Therefore, I use a tablet to communicate. (This isn’t really the place for details of that) But one of the programs that are on my Dynavox is called Whiteboard. It is kind of like using a real whiteboard but digital. So having some experience with the program and then seeing what David Hockney has done with essentially the same thing is truly extraordinary to me. Hockney visited Yosemite in 2010 and 2011. He didn’t bring a camera, easel or paint but he did take his iPad. Using a software program called “Brushes” he created 28 images. When they are assembled together, you are immersed in his perception of Yosemite.

I have visited Yosemite myself back in the mid 70’s, but I will never forget the beauty of this place. Some of the images from David Hockney brought me back to this place clear as day in my head. I understand why Hockney used the iPad to create this image. It was the only media he had and how could you not be inspired by one of the most picturesque places in the world. I can not even fathom being an artist, seeing that majestic place and trying to recreate it. I don’t think Hockney attempted to recreate it flawlessly, but he does give a sense of the colorful beauty that we can enjoy through his work.

Hockney created this piece, along with all 27 images in the “Yosemite Suite” series using his iPad and the program “Brushes. ” Brushes is a program specifically designed for Apple tablets. It has not been updated with a new version called Brushes Redux. It is free and an open source. It even works on iPhones. You use the toolbar on the bottom of the screen to bring up a color wheel to pick the color you desire. You can also choose from the numerous brushes that are accessible and paint away. It is nimble and responds well to the touch. Another cool feature is that this app offers the ability to record each brush stroke so you can watch and/or share with others exactly how each piece of art came to life. Hockney is without a doubt in my mind considered a pop artist. He is a major contributor to the world of pop art. The term pop art started here in the United States in December of 1962. Part of its definition on Wikipedia says - “It is also associated with the artists' use of mechanical means of reproduction or rendering techniques. ” How could you not put using an iPad instead of all the traditional types of media into the category? It is not like anything anyone else has ever done as an artist before. His use of bright colors makes me think of Andy Warhol, who is probably the most well-known pop artist.

The subject matter of this painting is not the trees or clouds that are lingering above them, but rather the brilliance and splendor of Yosemite. It is about the whole experience. I look at this piece and I can almost smell the fresh air and feel the chill in the air. I feel like Hockney did an exceptional job of capturing the feeling of standing on that road and looking out into the valley. As incredible as Ansel Adams photographs that were taken in the 50’s were, I do not think Hockney took the back seat at all. Although not as practical - he was still able to capture the feel of Yosemite just as well which speaks volumes. As far as the form - his iPad without a doubt reflects the beauty of Yosemite. Although it is not something that I typically would like such as something by Norman Rockwell or M. C. Esher - who are completely different from each other - I think that Hockney belongs in this group even though his work is nothing close to either of them. In the piece I chose, you can experience the wonderful colors that one would actually see from that vantage point. He also brings in the textures of the clouds, trees, mountains, and even the dirt road you are standing on. The spaces between the trees and the marbling of the mountains really give it a feeling rather than just a painting. If I would not have taken this class, I probably would not have noticed the tiny little things that set it apart from something I could have done on my Dynavox. The clouds to me would be the visual component that is emphasized. It is what I see and focus on at first glance. Even as writing this, when I look back at the screen, the white fluffy clouds are where my eyes focus first. I believe it is due to how they are not “in your face” white and not solid lines (like what I would do). With his program, he was able to layer colors and fade. Anyone who has ever used the Paint program on the computer and tried to draw more than a stickman or anything simple like that can appreciate how or what Hockney did with his works of art.

The 3D. look using the trees and mountains really make the clouds stand out to me, how they go towards the back (from our perspective) and wrap around the mountains adds so much to the enjoyment. With this media, you only have definite colors. What I mean by this is that you can not mix 2-3 colors of paint to create the exact color pigment that you want as you can with oil, watercolor or pretty much any other way of painting. His expert use of the Brushes program and his talent as an artist enabled him to create this type of new art like no one before. If you look at the bottom (the dirt road) we get a glimpse of how he was able to give us the look that he did. Using a lot of lines with colors to create that road. If he would have just used brown, sure, it would have been a dirt patch but there would be no texture. With his technique and ability to manipulate the Brushes app he was able to show us texture. It does not look flat or smooth - it looks like a dirt road even if you can’t see the brown at all. I could also talk about the marbling texture of the mountains but I think something that we all know (living where we do) is dirt. He did an excellent job showing us that. The function of this piece is in my opinion, pure enjoyment. There is no political agenda, no hidden message, no advertisement other than, “Yosemite is a beautiful place. ” This is what I see. I really enjoy this type of art where you do not have to think about what the artist is saying. It is just there to enjoy and look at. You can look at those mountains with the clouds flowing around them and just think, “Wow, this place looks beautiful. ”

On the contrary, you could look at the piece with a fine tooth comb and pick it apart and wonder how he made the clouds look so realistic and fade away on the edges. No matter how you look at it, you can enjoy it just for what it is. When it comes to the background information that influences this piece, I find it interesting that Hockney used an iPad to create this wonderful piece. As stated previously, his trip to Yosemite was in 2010 and 2011 but the first iPad did not come out until 2010 so he was a pioneer in using this technology. The app that he used was brand new at the time. I am certain that in the future, David Hockney will be known as a pioneer of digital media art. To take a brand new device to a stunning place instead of paint and a canvas was a bold move on Hockney's part. I find it funny that Hockney went to the Royal College and refused to do his final thesis but the school recognized his talent and gave him his diploma anyway. This piece is 1 of 28 in a collection that he created. Most are similar to this one, although they have different subjects or views. I think that he did a fantastic job using this new media and created something that is visually pleasing. He shocked the art world in 2001 and said that some of the classic artists of the renaissance period used mirrors and prisms while creating their artwork. Some even went as far to say that the artists cheated. I do not think this way. Is using a macro lens on a camera cheating?

I think Hockney is a pioneer in this digital age and should be considered as such. Now, I must admit that I don’t agree with some of his lifestyles and I don’t like some of his work that I have seen while researching him, but I believe that most of the landscape type art that he has done are really cool to look at. So I’ll finish with this - I do not agree with the lifestyle, but I do enjoy the art. I’d say the same thing about Elton John who I’ve seen 4 times.