Posts Tagged ‘abstract expressionism art’
Preparing for Class
Last week I took to class a very small photo of aspen trees in a forest. I had it enlarged enough to see in order to make a painting from it. I have not had time to spend on that painting until today, so today I spent the day painting.
By the time I finished the acrylic painting, it was too late to photograph it. In spite of the recommendation from the instructor of yesterday’s class on Photographing Art to do it indoors, I have had good luck taking photos of my work outside on the north side of a building in the shade. Tomorrow I will try to get some photos of paintings completed during this session so I can post them.
Tomorrow is the last class of the series. I look forward to it with sadness because I have had such fun this winter and done so many paintings that were outside my usual modus operandi. There is nothing like doing something different to gain a new perspective.
Growing
This winter, I have painted such a variety of things. I began by drawing a group of items which were in my purse and by elongating and diminishing them, came up with an abstract painting of triangles and circles. Amazing! What followed were studies of circles and rectangles to create more abstract art. Along the way, I’ve gotten help with some of my oil paintings, too.
Recently, I’ve painted an abstract landscape, colorful fish, and a figure study of a plein air painter. Who knows what Teacher will come up with next? It has been a great ride! I have grown a lot and loved every minute!
Abstract Expressionism and Music
Every now and then I find myself perusing the pages of the New York Times’ Art section. Under Music, recently, there was a wonderful reference to Mark Rothko, an expressionist painter who took his own life in 1970. At the posthumous opening of the Rothko Chapel, Morton Feldman, a composer and friend of the late artist, was in attendance. He explained to the philanthropists behind the Chapel that his own work had been influenced by the paintings of his friend.
The philanthropists asked Feldman to compose a piece to perform at the Chapel. The result was a stunning piece that, in my opinion, perfectly encapsulates the essence of abstract expressionism art. TullyScope, a music festival at the famous Alice Tully Hall, included a performance of the musical piece, performed by performers from Julliard. It’s so wonderful to read about the ways different art forms influence each other, as well as the continued appreciation for such works.
Abstract art in America
The Nazi rise to power in the 1930s was a boon to the abstract art movement in the United States. Artists fleeing Nazi suppression, made New York their home. All the major modern art forms from expressionism to cubism to dada to abstraction found a spotlight in New York. Artists Marcel Duchamp, Fernand Leger, Piet Mondrian, and Andre Breton were among the great 20th century artists who found refuge in New York.
The cultural influences of the Europeans were melded with the aspirations of eager, young American artists. Galleries which had previously only showed abstract art from Europe began to take note of the American artists as they matured. Eventually, two well known groups formed. They were known as the Abstract expressionists and the New York School. From this explosion on the New York art scene the world gained such artists as Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Franz Kline.
Making the Expressionism-Existentialism Connection
Being a fan of existential philosophy and literature, I’ve found myself drawn to expressionism art. Although the two words aren’t connected on Wikipedia (Nietzsche does popup in Expressionism), there are some among parallels between the views. Expressionism emphasizes the subjective perspective and the “living” aspect of life and emotional experience.
In the same vein, existential philosophy presents the world as a subjective place where we are capable of choosing our own path. According to Sartre, the definitive existential voice, this endless array of choices leads individuals to crippling existential fear. Expressionism is often characterized by emotional angst as well, such as the iconic piece The Scream by Edvard Munch.
Abstract Art II
Western art, from the Renaissance to the mid 19th century, largely used perspective to create an illusion of visible reality. That all changed with the beginning of abstract art. According to Wikipedia, “abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references to the world.” Abstraction indicates a departure from reality – be it slight or complete.
Artwork that takes liberties by changing color or form that is easily recognizable would be said to be partially abstract – as in the art movement known as Fauvism, popular in the early 20th century, in which color was deliberately changed. (There were a lot of red tree trunks.) Artwork that bears no resemblance to anything recognizable, as in the art movement known as Cubism, popular a little later in the 20th century, would be total abstraction.
Defining “Contemporary”
The term “contemporary” connotes the zeitgeist of the current times. This is an interesting concept, as often it takes time to conceptualize what the trend is, and by the time it has been correctly analyzed, there is often a new movement coming to the fore. Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of art.
It is mind-blowing to consider that the pieces of art that we consider classics were contemporary in their time. And as this cycle continues, our contemporary art, such as abstract expressionism, will undoubtedly be referred to as classic by future generations. With the intrinsic fluidity of temporality, it is a constant struggle for critics and laymen alike to accurately define what is contemporary.
Adding Life to the Living Room
A living room is the first room your visitors will see upon entering your home. This is where you most often entertain guests and visiting family and friends. Hence, it is important to keep this room attractive and inviting. Redecorating your living room doesn’t have to be burdensome.
You do not need to overhaul the whole room by painting the walls a different color or replacing all the furniture. The secret is to start with the small details. You can add decorative throw pillows to make the couch more appealing or perhaps change a vase or two and the room will look new already. Make a room look more contemporary with some abstract expressionism paintings. It’s all a matter of finding the right new pieces to blend with the old.