The History Behind Our Art Class Names

Have you ever wondered about the origins of our art class names? Today, we’re discussing the answer to that question!

The monikers for our age-specific art classes—Wee Warhols, Kiddie Kahlos, Learning Leos, and Thiebaud Tweens—are all named after influential artists from history (some not that long ago!). This month's post delves into the lives of these remarkable creators, exploring how they shaped the course of art and culture in their worlds and ours.

Get ready to uncover the stories behind the names that color our creative exploration!

Wee Warhols: ANDY WARHOL

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was a key figure in pop art, hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite early challenges with Sydenham chorea, a neurological disorder, Warhol developed a unique "blotted line" technique, combining drawing with printmaking. This allowed him to quickly reproduce and modify images for his artwork.

But before his art stardom, Warhol excelled as an illustrator, collaborating with big brands like Tiffany & Co. and Vogue. A perpetual experimenter, he tried his hand at everything—film, music, and fashion, finally transitioning to painting in the late 1950s.

In 1962, Warhol embraced photographic silkscreen printing, creating renowned works like "Campbell's Soup Cans" and pop paintings of Coca-Cola bottles and hamburgers. He even teamed up with Craig Braun on The Rolling Stones's album cover for Sticky Fingers in 1971.

Warhol's art and experimentation left an unforgettable mark on the creative landscape of the 20th century. The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, boasting an extensive collection, stands as the largest U.S. museum dedicated to a single artist. His motto, straight from his book Popism: The Warhol Sixties, is a gem: "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."

Kiddie Kahlos: FRIEDA KAHLO

Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican artist who lived from 1907 to 1954, is known for her vibrant self-portraits full of emotion. Born to a German-Hungarian dad and a Mexican mom of Spanish and Native American descent, Kahlo battled polio as a kid and survived a near-fatal bus crash in her teens, enduring more than 30 surgeries. While recovering, she taught herself to paint, drawing inspiration from Mexican folk culture.

Her paintings tell the story of her difficult personal life, depicting both emotional and physical pain. Kahlo gained global recognition with a hit exhibition in New York in 1938, followed by one in Paris in 1939. Even though the Paris one wasn't as successful, the Louvre bought her painting "The Frame," making her the first Mexican artist in their collection!

After her death, Frida Kahlo's reputation skyrocketed, turning into what some call "Fridamania" in the 21st century. In 2006, her self-portrait "Roots" sold for a whopping $5.62 million at a Sotheby's auction, making it the most expensive Latin American artwork ever sold and establishing Kahlo as one of the highest-selling women in art. Today, she's a true icon of the 20th century.

Learning Leos: LEONARDO DAVINCI

Leonardo Da Vinci was born in 1452 in Tuscany, Italy. Despite little formal education as a child, Da Vinci's artistic talents were recognized by his father, who apprenticed him to renowned artist Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence at age 15. This launched Da Vinci into over a decade of work to hone his skills in painting, sculpting, and mechanical arts.

Da Vinci’s brilliance in multiple fields can be seen today in his many notebooks, which depict workable designs for machines such as bicycles, helicopters, and submarines!

However, Leonardo da Vinci is best known in our time for his iconic paintings "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." These masterpieces, created during the Renaissance, reflect Da Vinci's unmatched gift of expression and emotional depth.

Da Vinci moved to France in 1516 to accept an offer from Francis I to be the "Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect to the King.” He spent the last three years of his life serving in this honorable position.

Leonardo da Vinci's contributions span art, science, and innovation, making him a timeless and inspirational icon of creativity.

Thiebaud Tweens: WAYNE THIEBAUD

Wayne Thiebaud (pronounced tee-bow), an American painter born in 1920, is famous for his colorful artworks featuring everyday items like pies, lipsticks, ice cream cones, and hot dogs, as well as landscapes and figure paintings.

Thiebaud's artistic journey had unique twists, with a stint at Walt Disney Studios during his high school years and service as an artist in the First Motion Picture Unit of the United States Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945.

While associated with pop art for his interest in mass culture objects, his works from the 1950s and 1960s slightly precede the classic pop art movement, suggesting his potential influence on the genre.

Thiebaud received multiple awards during his lifetime, including:

National Medal of Arts from President William Jefferson Clinton in 1994
The Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award from the National Arts Club, New York, NY in 1996
Lifetime Achievement Award for Art from the American Academy of Design, New York, NY in 2001
Induction into The California Hall of Fame in 2010
Honorary doctorate degrees from FIVE different colleges and art institutes!

Thiebaud lived to be 101 years old, and his well-deserved legacy lives on today in American art history.

Continuing Their Legacy

Now you know the history of the names for our age-specific art classes! At Wee Create, we are excited to inspire the next generation of artists and leaders, and look to the examples of many dedicated and talented figures from history.

Whether or not your child grows up to be the next Andy Warhol, Frieda Kahlo, Leonardo Da Vinci, or Wayne Thiebold, we aim to nurture their creativity, curiosity, and imagination - qualities that can help them build an amazing future!

Sources:

https://www.warhol.org/andy-warhols-life/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol

https://www.biography.com/artists/andy-warhol

https://www.fridakahlo.org/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frida-Kahlo/The-Two-Fridas-and-other-later-works

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo

https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/leonardo-da-vinci

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonardo-da-Vinci

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci

https://www.artnet.com/artists/wayne-thiebaud/

https://www.artnet.com/artists/wayne-thiebaud/biography