Georgia O’Keeffe American Artist

Georgia O’Keeffe Born in Wisconsin, O’Keeffe was one of the 1 st women artists to gain national attention. She became well known around 1916, after women had gained access to art training at colleges and universities in the United States.

O’Keeffe O’Keeffe was of Irish and Hungarian descent. She was the 1 st girl in her family, the 2 nd of seven children. She told her family she wanted to become an artist at age 10 when she took a class from a local watercolor painter. She attended college at the art institute of Chicago.

Georgia O’Keeffe She is most famous for her abstract paintings, which was a very innovative technique in the 1910’s and 1920’s. She revolutionized the tradition of flower painting by enlarging the blossoms and presenting them up close, as if seen through a magnifying lens.

Traditional Floral Still Lives, 1600’s

O’Keeffe Her paintings of New York buildings, from the same decades have been recognized as compelling images of the modern city.

O’Keeffe Beginning in 1929, O’Keeffe began working in New Mexico. She visited the area many times and made New Mexico her permanent home in She painted the unique landscapes, and bones and rocks she collected from the desert floor. She became the ultimate Southwestern painter; the area she lived and worked in is still known as “O’Keeffe Country.”

O’Keeffe O’Keeffe lived til the age of 98. She developed macular degeneration, which compromised her eyesight and she stopped painting in She continued to draw with pencil/ charcoal until She also learned a new skill, and began to work with clay.

Art Elements and Principles to be aware of… Elements: Line Color Shape Value Principles: Proportion/Scale

Ideas to Zoom in on… Flowers Leaves Fruit Vegetable Shell Insect Skull Rocks Anything Natural