Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo.

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican born artist who created paintings that focused on herself and the major events in her life, her pieces almost created an autobiography of her life through the use of

symbolism and surreal imagery. Born on July 6 1907 Mexico City, Frida lived a relatively normal life until she was involved in a bus accident that had a detrimental effect to her health, breaking her spinal column in several places. Frida suffered two main accidents in her life, her pieces started during the recovery period of the bus accident in which she painted the experience. Frida also contracted polio at the age of six, leaving on leg thinner than the other, something which Frida despised, often depicting it in her paintings and covering it up with long skirts. Frida was immobilised for three months during her recovery in which she painted many self portraits. Frida herself stated; 'I paint my self because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.' 

Frida's accident made it impossible for her to have children resulting in miscarriages during her pregnancies, this changed Frida's perception on life, she painted these experiences, painting herself in a hospital bed with physical wounds on her body symbolising the psychological wounds she had gained during her accidents, miscarriages and other depressive moments in Frida's life.

''I never painted dreams, I painted my reality''.

Fridas work was inspired by Mexican culture and although her pieces in the beginning were very traditional her pieces took on a more dark approach to art which any artists admired. Mexican culture is evident in her work through the use of heavily symbolic imagery, bright colours and an almost primitive way of working. 

Frida has inspired me to act on my own feelings when creating my final piece, using subliminal messages within my work through the use of imagery and colour to show my feelings about my own artwork. 

Pablo picasso also created pieces which were inspired by his own feelings much like the way Frida

created her pieces, although Picasso's pieces were not surreal like Frida's they used heavy symbolism through the use of colour and a primitive style of working. Between 1901 and 1904, Pablo Picasso painted pieces in various shades of blue and green, these pieces were quite somber and used these colours to express Picasso's feelings at the time.These pieces were heavily inspired by Spain and Spanish culture much like Frida's work was inspired by Mexican culture. These pieces were first inspired by Picasso's journey through Spain and the suicide of a very close friend, Carlos Casagemas, these works included any portraits of his friend as well as various other subjects.

Picasso also created numerous works in what was named his 'rose period'.

This lasted from 1904-1906. After the death of his friend Picasso met Fernande Olivier (a French artist and model) in which they became very close, Picasso was happy with his relationship with Fernande and this shows throughout his work, he admitted himself that this ay have been the reason for his change in painting style.During the rose period a harlequin would feature frequently and sometimes throughout the rest of his career, this became a personal symbol for himself depicting the happier and more cheerful times during Picasso's life and was often used throughout his career even after the Rose Period had ended.

Picasso has inspired me to think about my use of colour within my pieces and how colour can effect emotions and portray emotions of both artist and subject, I want to experiment with different shades of blue and pink to show how colours effect emotions.