David Hockney - By Sean O'Day

David Hockney is a Britain born artist who moved to Los Angeles and became famous shortly after…Proving that moving to Los Angeles will actually make you famous. Hockney fell in love with art at a young age and began exploring his artistic side all through college. He attended Bradford College of Art, then moved on to study at Royal College of Art in London. A short 2 year intermittence working at hospitals to complete national service requirements between 1957-1959 gave him some experiences and other grown up things to contemplate before diving back into his art. Once in graduate school, he began experimenting with different techniques and matters of subject. His main medium throughout his early career was painting, stating, “I prefer living in color.” his material was acrylic and his style was expressionism, similar to that of Francis Bacon. In 1962, the RCA would not let him graduate so he protested, refusing to write the required essay for the final exam. The school recognized his reputation and talent had a second thought over its regulations, awarding him the diploma. How rad is that!

Lithographic Water Made of Lines, Crayon and Two Blue Washes Without Green Wash. -David Hockney print from series of LA Pools

​A visit to California revitalized his hopes and aspirations of his art. He fell in love with the style, architecture, and culture. His first series in LA involved paintings of swimming pools as the subject matter. These beauties are minimalistic and the color pallet is pleasing to the eye. He later began a series of paintings of living rooms in LA and whilst doing so, photographed them for reference. One living room was documented using a string of polaroids. Once taken, he put them all together for a reference but then realized that the photo collage itself was art. This would inevitably become his claim to fame. He called these pieces "Joiners".

​Hockney was introduced to printmaking while he was attending Royal College of the Art. He gained recognition by the college for his work and they wanted to publish his Rakes Progress series as a book. He had to expand the collection from 8 to 16 by acid etching fifty plates. In 1976, Hockney created a portfolio of 20 etchings titled, The Blue Guitar: Etchings by David Hockney Who was Inspired By Wallace Stevens Who was Inspired by Pablo Picasso. In 1985 he was commissioned to design the cover of Vogue. After experimenting with Polaroids, they became his main medium of focus. Photo collage and lithography fueled his art for the next ten years. David Hockney has a vast collection of works, most of them being prints and multiples. mainly working through etching and lithography. His subjects range from portraits to architecture to abstract expressionism. He is an openly gay artist and he was never shy in displaying it within his works. 

From left to right- Myself and My heroes. Two Boys Aged 23 or 24. Artist and Model

WORK CITED

• http://www.artnet.com/artists/david-hockney/
  
• http://www.biography.com/people/david-hockney-9340738#early-work
  
• https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/nov/14/david-hockney-printmaking-genius
  
• http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/David_Hockney
  
• https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2014/04/05/can-learn-david-hockney-printmaker/