Posts Tagged ‘abstract tree paintings’
Subject and Vision of the Plein Air Painter
Every good painting is about something, and that “something” is more than the literal subject matter. The most exciting plein air paintings offer a unique interpretation of the world by focusing on an aesthetic experience that becomes the painting’s reason to be.
On the most basic level, every representational painting is, in part, about content and subject matter. On another level, the subject is a vehicle for the artist to explore the visual language of painting: color, composition, value, form, movement, and the paint itself. Is the subject the barn sitting at the end of a field, or is it about a color experience – a red shape poised against a green field? Which event is the dominant statement – the barn or the color experience?
Unusual Tools for the Oil Painter
The folks at Artist’s Magazine thought it would be fun to ask some of their friends to share their unusual tools or perhaps surprising uses for common supplies. The following are some responses from oil painters:
Koo said one of her students used a wedge shape cosmetic sponge to lay down a layer of paint. Kirk uses a cuttlebone as a sanding or smoothing device between coats of paint (They are sold in pet stores to be placed in parrot cages). Koo said that careful sanding the surface of a painting can smooth out irregularities and likes micro fine grit of 1500-2000 which can be obtained from www.woodworker.com. Jane’s favorite is the Wipe Out Tool by Kemper. It works like a squeegee to wipe up paint. Robert uses a reducing glass which looks like a magnifying glass but does the opposite and enables him to notice errors he has missed. Michael had a specially built palette, created for the sole purpose of making large scale paintings. His palette is 15” x 22” and he use brushes size 12, 16 and 20.
Enhancing the Art Buying Experience
In the November 2011 issue of Professional Artist, Annie Strack has written an article entitled, “Enhancing the Art Buying Experience.” She lists 15 inexpensive things you can do to add value to your art and encourage buyers to become collectors. The following are a few:
Include a bonus gift with purchases, such as a pack of note cards (why not cards featuring your plein air paintings?), calendar, magnet or tote bag. Give discounts for multiple purchases. Reward your customers for referring you – bonuses could be discounts on future purchases or gifts such as reproductions or small original artworks.
Don’t skimp on art supplies and materials – make sure all supplies are archival. Offer free shipping – thus giving extra value without having to discount the value of the artwork. Offer trial periods for approval – artwork loaned this way is rarely returned. Perhaps most importantly, follow up on every purchase. Every buyer is a potential collector so treat them all like collectors and your relationship with them will continue long after that first purchase.
Finding Your Voice – for the Plein Air Painter – Part 2
Continuing from yesterday, Dr. Maisel listed other ways for the plein air painter as well as others to find their voice. A word about these ways follows:
1) Don’t rest on skills and talents. If you excel at painting dynamic dogs, don’t rely on this skill so completely that you effectively silence yourself. 2) Allow risk-taking to feel risky. A risk is likely to feel risky. Get ready for the reality by practicing one or two anxiety strategies that allow you to reduce your experience of anxiety. 3) Articulate what you are attempting – to yourself. By putting what you hope to accomplish in words, you clarify your intentions and will value your efforts more strongly.
4) Finding your voice may be as simple and straight forward as making a list of your loves. 5) Accept never-before-seen results. It can feel odd to speak in your own voice and then not recognize the results. What you’ve created may be genuinely new – and completely new to you – and may look like nothing you’ve seen before. Don’t rush to judge it as odd, a mess, a mistake or not what you intended. Give it time to grow on you and speak to you. Your own voice may sound unfamiliar if you’ve never heard it before.
SEO Optimization for the Web Site Owner
Today I attended a class at the local Chamber of Commerce. The class was entitled “Achieving Top Search Engine Positions” and was led by Ira S. Wolfe, a Social Media Architect (www.socialmediaarchitectsofdelmarva.com and www.bestsmallbusinesssolutions.com ). It was for folks who have a web site or blog.
I learned about searching for keywords with Google’s Keyword Tool. Sometimes a small difference in what you search for produces big differences in the outcome. Using Adwords can be expensive, but you might want to try it for a short time or for a limited budget. In some cases, using Adwords is like day trading on the stock market. Google Analytics can give you all kinds of information and it would pay to spend some time learning how to use them.
This was an introductory class but it inspired me to work on my web site of abstract tree paintings. Mr. Wolfe was an excellent presenter and if anyone out there can get a group together, I recommend you ask him to lead your discussion.
The Abstract Art Debate
Many people exhibit a strong disdain for colorful abstract art, claiming that it simply looks like anyone could have created it. Others say that each piece has a deep and symbolic meaning that the artist is trying to portray through the work. As with most dilemmas that I face in life, I take the middle ground when it comes to this debate.
While I agree that most abstract work doesn’t have the fine detail of realist paintings, it is unfair to say that there is no skill involved. Conversely, I believe that there is a fault to trying to find deep meaning in every piece of work. The true meaning of any piece of art—whether it is music, paintings, sculptures or literature—is in the eye of the beholder. The beauty of it is that we take our experiences and ideals, and infuse them with the art to create our own meaning.
New Age Realism
Nowadays, many people don’t see the relevance of realistic works of art. Some claim that the craft involves no imagination, while others assert that a photograph is more accurate anyways. Although the popularity of realism in artwork may be dwindling, that doesn’t mean that you can’t look to nature for inspiration.
Abstract landscape painting is the perfect way to juxtapose the power of nature and the call for expressive artwork. By creating your own distinct view of nature, you can allow people to experience your interpretation of the world around you. And, of course, one of the signs of true art is that it requires the observer to unearth new ways of thinking or discover those ideas that may be lying dormant in them.