Art that depicts everyday life and its surroundings. Its purpose is simple – record daily life, please the eye, make us smile and record important occasions.

Souvenirs

Letters, books

Diary

Video

Stories , oral history

Photographs

1 2

3

4

5

6

The first practical camera wasn’t invented until 1888

Painters would capture moments for families or record historical events

Madame Roulin and Her BabyVincent van GoghOil on canvas, 1888Robert Lehman Collection, 1975

Washington Crossing the DelawareEmanuel Leutze  (American, Schwäbisch Gmünd 1816–1868 Washington, D.C.) Oil on canvas, 1851. 149 x 255 in. (378.5 x 647.7 cm)

MATTIE LOU O’KELLEY CARMEN LOMAS GARZA

1908-1997 Started painting at age 60

as a hobby Celebrated folk artist Painted Georgia countryside

she knew in her childhood in the early part of the 20th century: barns, farmers, animals and gardens filled with flowers and vegetables

Wrote two storybooks with her own paintings as images

1948- At age 13 decided to

become an artist Celebrated Hispanic artist Painted Chicano culture by

portraying the family life of a typical Mexican American family – their traditions, celebrations, ceremonies, everyday life, and religion.

Wrote three books including her images as illustrations

Mattie Lou O'KelleyMy Parent's Farm, 1980Oil on canvas, 58 x 42 inches

O’Kelley’s whimsical landscapes employ flattened images and fantastic colors. The flattened perspective of My Parent’s Farm turns the agricultural vista into a richly colored quilt of productive fields.

Georgia FarmOil on Canvas, 1991 23 3/8 x 31 3/8 inches

Simple joys fill Georgia Farm, an image of abundance on a prosperous farm. O’Kelley personalized scenes such as this with her use of particular colors applied in small dabs. The resulting texture is like needlework, especially in areas of repetitive patterning such as the lines of turquoise crops. She distorted perspective so that space is flattened, creating remarkable planar arrangements of color and design.

Carmen Lomas GarzaEmpanadas (turnovers)1991, gouache on cotton paper20 x 28 inches.

Carmen Lomas GarzaSandia / Watermelon 1986, gouache on cotton paper20 x 28 inches.

“A little piece of my heart” is how Garza describes her work. She reflects her

Chicano culture by portraying the family life of a typical Mexican American family

– their traditions, celebrations, ceremonies, everyday life, and religion.

Cumpleaños de Lala y Tudi (Lala and Tudi's birthday party)1989, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches.

O’KELLEY GARZA

O’KELLEY GARZA

Oil on canvas Lines Repetition Texture Colors Children are happily

swinging and playing with balls and dolls.

Oil on canvas Balance Emphasis Unity Colors Happy scene at a

birthday party