Quizicat Questions Van Gogh. Written and Illustrated by Sheila Graber

Quizicat Questions Van Gogh Written and Illustrated by Sheila Graber

Curiosity can never kill this cat. In fact quite the reverse - she thrives on it. Quizicat was born in 1973 and ever since she was a kitten has shown a natural curiosity in the world about her. She has kindly agreed to help her friend (and servant) Sheila Graber with her ideas on making Art History fun and accessible to all ages We have started by Questioning Van Gogh. And then plan to move on to Questioning Mondrian, Leonardo and Michelangelo (the well known Turtles)... Expressionism and several other key characters and styles in art history. Watch this space... Quizicat Questions Van Gogh Written and Illustrated by Sheila Graber All the drawing and paintings shown by Van Gogh in this book have been re-drawn by Sheila Graber She advises that you go to see the REAL THING whenever you get the chance! Published by Quizicat Productions Copyright Sheila Graber 2018

What s in? Introduction by Quizicat and Sheila Graber What s more On some pages you will see this image:- WHO was Van Gogh? 1 WHERE did Van Gogh live? 5 WHEN did Van Gogh live? 29 My paw is pointing you to one of my 15 Action Sheets at the back of the book so YOU can join in exploring more about Van Gogh for yourself. HOW did Van Gogh paint? 33 WHY did Van Gogh paint? 39 Past and Future 45 Bizi Quizi Action Sheets 47 About The Author 63 You may see some text in blue. This is a suggestion to type this into the internet for more information.

Why I questioned Van Gogh- by Quizicat Then I heard Don Maclean s song Starry Starry Night and thought magic! So I took a closer look at his paintings and Vincent Van Gogh himself. The more I questioned him the more I discovered that he was not only a hugely skilful artist but a really caring human being. I wish all humans were as considerate of nature and animals as he was. Our universe would be a much happier,brighter place - we can all learn from him. All I had heard about Van Gogh was that he was a crazy artist who cut off his ear. But being a very curious cat I thought there has to be more to him than that!

Why I made this book with Quizicat- by Sheila Graber I had learnt about Van Gogh in art history lessons and seen photographs of his work. On a school visit to the Laing Art Gallery Newcastle Exhibition of Van Gogh s paintings in 1956 when I was 16.I was knocked out by the incredible vitality of his brush strokes that leapt off the canvas.on my return to art lessons I had a go to try to capture his expressive way of applying paint.. Reading Van Gogh s own letters and seeing the film Lust for Life that same year showed me that art can reflect life and be true self expression. Looking back I see these self portraits do show emotions I met in my own life. My Mother s philosophy was Never never never give up. She demonstrated by her own daily dedication that to gain the skills to make anything well you have to work at it with all your heart every day of your life. She and Vincent were on the same wave-length. Animating The Cat who walked by HImself 1980 Aged 11 Pencil Homework Aged 18 Art College Aged 21 Enjoying Teaching Art Aged 23 Dad Died Aged 25 Married Animating Quizicat 2018 Aged 30 Divorced Start Animating Aged 40 Enjoying Full Time Animation Aged 51 Mam Died Aged 65 Fun with All the Arts Aged 77 Ipad & Pencil Homework!

This is Van Gogh s Family Album. WHO was Van Gogh? Vincent was born on March 30th 1853 the oldest of eight brothers and sisters. They were a close knit family and gave Vincent much needed support throughout his life. Here are some of the people who were most important to him. 1 2

When Vincent was 28 he painted this picture of his Grandad - he was named after him. This is Vincent Van Gogh himself aged 13 1 This is Vincent s Father, Theodorus. People liked his handsome face, but did NOT like his long boring sermons. Here is Vincent s Mother Anna. She loved painting and drawing and encouraged her son to be an artist. Standing tall and looking cool, is his younger brother Theo, who was to be his life-long friend and supporter. 3 4

We can learn a lot about Van Gogh as a person from his younger sister Elisabeth s book written 23 years after his death. Personal Recollections of Vincent Van Gogh Elisabeth Van Gogh Three happy children playing in a garden in full bloom, stop to see their eldest brother approaching- a boy of seventeen as broad as he was long, his back slightly bent, with the bad habit of letting his head hang. A strange face, not young, the eyebrows on the large noble brow drawn together in deepest thought. In spite of all awkwardness and ugly exterior one was conscious of a greatness, the unmistakable sign of the deep inner life.... Wheatfields and Mountains 1889 He sought the woods and fields watching and studying the life of birds and flowers. With a thousand voices Nature spoke to him while he listened and stored what he saw and thought for future work. When eight years old he surprised his mother by presenting her with a sketch of a cat climbing an apple tree in the garden. Despite this rough exterior he showed a skill and gentleness in arranging flowers and later, a natural gift for nursing the sick with great tenderness. Irises 1890 Drawing of a cat 1890 - aged 37 Aha-Vincent started off with the right idea- pity the drawing did not survive. We will see, thanks to Elisabeth, how his travels and the poor people he met along the way had a huge effect on him and therefore on his artwork. 7 8

U.K. Netherlands WHERE did Van Gogh live? 2 1 3 4 5 France Belgium 9 1 6 2 7 8 VIncent spent time in 9 main towns. You can see from the map how he felt whilst he lived and worked in each one. We are going to follow his life s journey from 1-9 5 6

1 Zundert in the Netherlands Vincent was born in His father s large Vicarage. With servants and a horse and Carriage. He loved exploring the fields,woods and farm buildings around the vicarage. He was sent to a very posh boarding school so he would not mix with the poorer village children. This is a drawing of a barn he made when he was eleven. He hated it and was very unhappy. VIncent said he missed his family very much. 9 10

2 London in the United Kingdom He was much happier training with his brother Theo to be an Art Dealer in the family business started by his Uncle. Later taken over by Adolphe Goupil who expanded it world wide. When he was 20 Vincent was sent to their London office. Whilst there he was deeply touched by the writings of Charles Dickens and his concern for hard working poor people of theday. His heart was also touched by his Landlord s daughter. Alas, she did not care for him. Art of the most varying kind came to his hand: pictures and reproductions by all sorts of artists. Up till then he had been absorbed in Nature, so now he became deeply engrossed in how she was reproduced. Often it seemed to him that the picture did not reproduce the Nature he knew and loved so well. From the book by Elisabeth Van Gogh He was good at displaying and packing works of art that were sold to rich fashionable people in the gallery at the Hague, Netherlands. Here are the two brothers together at that time. Can you work out which is Vincent? Returning to the Hague he became even more shy and awkward as he mixed with customers. But he could not stop himself advising visitors not to buy what he considered second rate art on display just because it was fashionable. Goupil told him he was Too honest and was losing them money. He lost his job. 11 12 3

3 Amsterdam in the Netherlands On losing his job the 24 year old Vincent went to stay in his Father s brother s house in Amsterdam to study to be MInister. He already spoke three languages but needed to learn Latin and Greek to enable him to take the entrance exam for the University. He was quick to learn and worked very hard too hard in fact! He never stopped day or night. Vincent did take time out to draw the countryside around him and visited the many museums in Amsterdam. He felt an inner link to the work of the great artist Rembrandt who had lived and worked in the Netherlands just like himslelf Rembrandt Trees 1643 Van Gogh Windmills 1878 However, he rarely stopped studying - this is what he wrote to Theo in 1878. 4 Greek lessons in the heart of Amsterdam, on a very warm and sunny Summer afternoon, with the feeling hanging over me that many difficult examinations will have to be taken, set by very learned and cunning Professors. Not nearly as nice as a walk on the beach or in the Belgium wheatfields, which must be beautiful by now on a sunny day like today. But I am told I must fight on with my studies... His father was disappointed to hear from Vincent that he had decided not to sit the exam, feeling Latin and Greek were dead languages. He wanted to help the living. Sadly his aloof uncle did not even allow him to eat with the rest of the family. He was alone for most of the year, and fell quite ill. 13 14

If he 4 Borinage in Belgium Vincent asked the Ministers in power if he could possibly go and help people in need. Like the poor families he had met in London who Charles Dickens had written about in his books. They said OK he could go and be a missionary with the poor coal miners in Borinage Belgium where working conditions were evidently the worst in Europe. After a couple of years through lack of sleep, food and warmth he fell very ill. His father Theodorus came to his rescue just in time and took him home. Here barefooted young children and women worked alongside the men deep in the dark digging and hauling coal. Vincent felt so sorry for them that he lived like them in a tiny damp cottage giving away all the warm clothing that his Mother had knitted for him and money sent to him from his ever supportive family. 5 MInisters in chargetold Vincent he was too caring. He should just preach, not give practical help. He lost his job and faith in the Church - but not in God and Nature. 15 16

Too honest to be an Art Dealer and too caring to be a Minister, Vincent came back home with his Dad in 1880 Aged 27. 5 Etten in the Netherlands However he much preferred to draw people at work in the fields, Etten vicarage and church where the family lived 1875-1882 Here, after much thought he decided that he was really meant to be an artist to share his caring for God, Nature and Humanity with the world. Peasant s Cottage following the flow of action from planting to digging to eating potatos. He really liked the honesty of drawing peasants where the famliy were eating food grown with their own hands to the remote classic models at art school. His cousin-in-law Mauve taught him how to use Oil Paint and he loved it! Theo and he made a deal he would send Vincent money and in return Vincent would send him paintings to sell in his gallery. Life Class Model Vincent set off with renewed energy to study anatomy and perspective at Art Classes. Peasant Digging The Potato Eaters 1885 17 18 He also loved his cousin Kee. Alas she did not love him!

6 Paris in France Vincent had heard from Theo of some amazing New Art being produced in Paris, so he headed off to see it and stayed there with his brother. The dull dark landscape painting that people were used to seeing in art galleries in 1872 Van Gogh painting of the view from his window in Antwerp1885 Van Gogh painting of the view from his window in Paris1887 Monet s painting of Impression Sunrise created in 1872 Theo and Vincent in Paris drawn by Pissarro. Can you spot who is who?. mmm - Just an Impression eh - so that s why they were called Impressionists. You can easily see how in a couple of years after looking at the work of Monet and other French Impressionists Van Gogh changed his palette from dark to light bright colours! Vincent loved the Paris art scene but found the weather too cold and damp. So he set off to find some sun. 19 20

7 Arles in France 6 The Yellow House 1888 The two artists exchanged portraits. Here Van Gogh paints himself as a monk spreading the word of the New Art. Looking up to the older Gauguin as a leader, little knowing how hot tempered he was. Vincent ended up in the little town of Arles in the sunny South of France. He loved yellow Thinking it to be warm and friendly like the sun So he painted his whole house that colour with the idea of making it a welcoming place for fellow artists he had met in Paris to meet and paint together. The first artist he invited to stay was Gauguin. Here Gauguin paints himself as a fighter and rebel. He argued with his wife and left her and their five children in 1885. He was probably the worst possible companion that Vincent could have chosen, Sunflowers 1888 He sold his first painting. YES!! Full of joy at the prospect of Gauguin s visit VIncent filled the Yellow House with splendid painting of sun flowers. He loved the idea of creating a warm welcome for his friend in his Studio of the South. He had never been so happy. And to top it all off... 7 Red Vineyard near Arles 1888 21 22

8 St. Remy in France Paul Gauguin arrived in October 1888 and created Van Gogh Painting Sunflowers in December. Vincent did not like it saying It made him look mad. The two had totally different views on art. Vincent was all for pairting from Nature, Paul believed in working from memory. After being cooped up in the small house together their tempers grew hotter and hotter. In May 1889 Vincent requested that, for his own safety, he stay at the hospital of St.Remy. This is a picture he made of one of corridors there. HIs brother Theo sent him money to keep him going. He did not always spend it on food but on paints and canvases working out in the blazing sun day after day - and night after night! He stayed for a year during which time he painted 150 canvases many of them the ones that we all know and love so well. Like Starry NIght One night just before Christmas, both rather drunk, boiling point was reached. A razor was involved and, in the fight that followed, VIncent lost his ear. I January 1889 he painted this portrait with the wound bandaged up. The heat, not eating properly and constant working took it s toll. It was decided that he should move further North to be nearer to Theo and his new wife In Paris who could take care of him better. Starry Night 1889 23 24

9 Auvers in France Working In the wheat fields on a stormy day feeling lost and alone he thought. I m 37 years old... I ve done over 2000 sketches and nearly 900 oil paintings in the last 10 years and only sold one. I m a failure, I m just a burden to my brother and everyone else. I think you can work out which is the photo and which Van Gogh s Oil Painting! Church at Auvers 1890 You can see how he started from the shapes in front of him but then through his brush work and colour gave it his own special energetic style. Which do you prefer? A pistol shot rang out - some say Vincent shot himself others that it was an accident. Either way the world lost one of it s greatest artists, but what a legacy of humanity and courage he has left us. This is Vincent s painting of Dr. Gachet who cared for him all the time he was in Auvers. He wrote I have found a true friend in Dr. Gachet, something like another brother, so much do we resemble each other physically and also mentally. The Doctor was also a herbalist who really understood what made artists tick! He was, luckily for Vincent, the best possible man to take care of him at that difficult time. Wheatfields with Crows July 1890 25 26

Vincent s Final Resting Place This is a photo of Theo s wife Johanna or Jo for short and their baby christened Vincent. It is entirely thanks to Jo that Van Gogh s work is so well known today. She made sure all his paintings were stored safely and then helped organised exhibitions worldwide. She also translated all 800 letters between the brothers from the original Dutch to English and published them in a best selling book. Theo died shortly after Vincent. His widow had Theo s body moved to Auvers so the two brothers could be together in death as they were in life. 8 At last it was recognised that his masterly paintings expressed a unique caring and wonder for people, animals and nature. 27 28 Thanks to Jo preserving his work for us Vincent is now one of the most well known and well loved artists in the world.

Vincent lived from 1853 to 1890. At the time of his birth the following Royals were in power in the Countries he was to visit in his life. WHEN did Van Gogh live? William III KIng of the Netherlands (1849 1890) Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 1837 1901) Leopold 1 King of Belgium (1790-1865) Napoleon III Emperor of France (1852 1870) 29 30 That s all very well, but being a curious cat I have discovered there were also many new inventions in Van Gogh s lifetime that affected him and still affect us today. Turn the page to see them...

8 New Inventions in Vincent lifetime from 1853 to 1890. 1853 Potato Chips invented 1879 First Electric Light Bulb 1860 First Kindergarten 1880 First Flush Toilet 1873 First Blue Jeans 1886 Coca Cola invented 1876 9 1889 Telephone invented Eiffel Tower completed 31 32

HOW did Van Gogh paint? The painter on his way to work. Van Gogh 1888 We can see that Vincent is carrying his easel and canvases, and a box of paints. I think a bit more research was needed here so I started questioning why oil paint was so special to modern artists like Van Gogh 33 34

Artist at work inside Artist at work outside I decided to put my cousin Smartycat on the trail. This is what she discovered. 10 In 1841 a portrait painter called John Rand mixed up powder colour and oil and put it into metal tubes with screw caps which were light and portable. For hundred of years artists had to grind up paints by hand from powdered oxides and mix with oil to bind them into a paste. This needed lots of bottles, pestle and mortar, scales and time. They stayed inside studios and painted from sketches and memory. So what has happened to allow Monet, the artist on the right to paint out of doors? 11 Ah - thanks Smartycat. Now we see why Van Gogh loved oil paint so much. He could pack all his colours in one box and head off to paint anywhere anytime. Why don t YOU have a go it s much more fun than poster paint - and a lot messier too! 35 36

Vincent was a great letter writer and shared his everyday activities and innermost thoughts with his family and people he was working with at the time. You can read his letters for yourself in books, or on line at the Van Gogh Museum http://vangoghletters.org/vg/ This letter to his brother Theo shows us that, quite often, the all important artist s materials were posted to him from Paris. I have to thank you very much for the canvases and tubes of colour, which arrived in good condition today. Another Big HOW that I questioned was HOW did Vincent manage to complete so many masterpieces from 1880 to 1890? I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort and disappointment and perseverance. The Hague, 1882, to Theo I ve just kept on ceaselessly painting in order to learn painting. Nuenen, 1885, to Theo One must spoil as many canvases as one succeeds with. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, 1889, to Theo A small section of The Sower This is a sketch for my painting of a Sower working at Sunset. 12 37 38 The answer appears to be work, work and don t be afraid of making mistakes - learn from them.

WHY did Van Gogh paint? Vincent did not paint for fame, in fact quite the reverse, he preferred to keep out of the limelight. I ve never felt a desire (and I don t believe I ever shall) to bring the public to my work... a certain popularity seems to me the least desirable of things. The Hague, 1882, to Anthon van Rappard It seems he did not simply want to copy reality. He wanted his work to pass on his own emotions and feelings to the viewer Here s a sketch for the painting I m planning of my bedroom. I hope to make it restful and cosy to look at. 13 Bedroom at Arles 1888 With a cheery handshake your brother Vincent. 39 40

`In all of nature, in trees for instance, I see expression and a soul. The Hague, 1882, to Theo How do you feel when you look at these trees by Van Gogh? It s better if you look at a print of Vincent s actual painting. To me this Cypress tree looks full of happy energy. Like a rocket about to take off for the sun that VIncent loved so much! Road with Cypress Tree and Star 1890 Peach Tree in Blossom 1888 Winter Garden 1888 14 Study of a Tree-chalk/pencil 1882 Mulberry Tree - oil on canvas 1889 41 42

The oldest person in the world aged 122 was Jeanne-Calment 1875-1986. Born in Arles she remembers Van Gogh coming into her uncle s art shop to buy canvas when she was just 13. Her memory of him was that he was dirty, ugly, and rough The final big WHY that most people ask is...why did he sell only one painting in his lifetime and now his work is priceless? Theo could not sell VIncent s work. Goupil (The man who owned the gallery he worked in) had scorned them as they were nothing like the work that was the fashion of the day. He had the last word in the Art World of Paris, Europe and America. From the book by Elisabeth Van Gogh One of his first portraits 1886 These self portraits show Vincent had never cared for the fashionable,or expensive things in life that some think are so important. He had seen something FAR more exiting in the world about him and spent his life trying to share that vision with us all. At Arles1887 At St. Remy 1889 This clean shaven young looking self portrait was his last. He sent it to his mother for her 70th birthday no doubt to reassure her that he was in good health...even though he was very ill. Fashionable work that sold well by the very popular artist Gerome Unfashionable work that did not sell by the not very popular artist Van Gogh Or as he said himself:- "The uglier, older, meaner, iller, poorer I get, the more I wish to take my revenge by doing brilliant colour, well arranged, resplendent." Arles, 1888, to his Sister Willemien Van Gogh Fashions come and go but wonderful paintings born of artistic vision that reflect a life full of experience live on. 43 44

Van Gogh Learnt from the past... Millet End of the Day 1869 One of Van Gogh s heroes was the French artist Millet who often painted peasants at work with great realism. Van Gogh End of the Day 1889 Van Gogh worked from a print of Millet s painting but added extra power of actionand strength of line and colour. and many other artists learnt from him. One Example is Piet Mondrian also born in the Netherlands. 1907 1910 1912 1921 As you can see Mondrian s tonal trees took on new colour and energy after he saw Van Gogh s work. He then went on to study other artists and to evolve his own style. I have shown him in his smart suit (very different to Vincent s rough clothing) working on Composition in Red,Yellow and Blue 1921. 15 By questioning Van Gogh I have learnt a whole lot of new stuff. I hope you have too. Now it s YOUR TURN to question. Try out my Action Sheets over the page! HAVE FUN 45 46

15 Bizi Quizi Action Sheets for you to print out and enjoy! 1 Bizi Quizi No1 Page No 4 47 48

2 Bizi Quizi No 2 Page No 6 3 Bizi Quizi No 3 Page No 12 49 50

4 Bizi Quizi No.4 Page No 13 5 Bizi Quizi No.5 Page No 16 51 52

6 Bizi Quizi No.6 Page No 21 7 Bizi Quizi No.7 Page No 22 53 54

8 Bizi Quizi No.8 Page No 28 9 Bizi Quizi No.9 Page No 32 55 56

10 Bizi Quizi No.10 Page No 36 11 Bizi Quizi No.11 Page No 36 57 58

12 Bizi Quizi No.12 Page No 37 13 Bizi Quizi No.13 Page No 40 59 60

14 Bizi Quizi No.14 Page No 41 15 Bizi Quizi No.15 Page No 45 61 62

About the Author Sheila Graber taught art history to Advanced Level GCSE from 1960 for 20 years, she also built it into art lesson to pupils in comprehensive schools from the ages of 11-18. She began animating artists in action from 1975 as a way to get students really interested in art history. Her first film was based on Michelangelo. Through animation she could not only show all his work in correct chronological order but also cut it to music to show the artist in dynamic action. It won the short film award at Cannes in the 1970 s but she would much rather it was used in schools to help engage youngsters with his work. Michelangelo 1975 David Michelangelo 1975 Sistine Chapel Ceiling Her award winning movie Four Views of Landscape featuring the work of Constable, Turner, Van Gogh and Monet was seen by Terry Measham Head of Educational Films Dept. at The Tate who invited Sheila down to the sculpture hall in 1978 to animate for their William Blake Exhibition. Sheila s animation on Mondrian is used at his own house in Amersfoort as an introduction to his work for Visitors. The Pompidou Centre Paris are also using her short animation in workshops currently running globally. Mondrian 1978 Animation a Handy Guide 2009 In 2009 Bloomsbury published her book Animation a Handy Guide aimed squarely at animation students.as a Visiting Professor at the University of Sunderland Sheila observed that most students do not read but go straight to the internet for information- hence she added an interactive DVD to really engage the end users. Being media Adviser for South Tyneside LEA in the Mid 1980 s brought her into contact with all ages from Nursery to Tertiary and she has kept in close contact with the educational scene ever since. Seeing the hundreds of Sunflower look-alikes on the walls of Junior schools throughout the country made her realise there was a GREAT NEED for material to help classroom teachers or homeschoolers pass on what art and artists are REALLY about. Four Views of Landscape. 1976 William Blake 1978 63 64 This book is a start...