Why we like abstract art

Why do we like abstract art? Well, not everyone, but enough to make us wonder why.

Here's a description (thanks Leslie) of a class in Florence that says something important about understanding an art work. If it were easy to solve we could just walk away and look at the next painting. I want to know why a painting draws me and keeps me interested. The best example is the work of Joan Mitchell. Each encounter leads to revealing more.

Here is a recent Robert Genn newsletter that says something about how we're hard wired to solve puzzles.

I want to paint the painting that draws us back time and time again. Not a simple chore but a good goal to work toward.

Orange

One of my favorite tasks is doing color sample boards of all the colors I have. I've been keeping the orange with the red in storage. It's a search and scramble every time I want a specific color. So today I created an orange sample board and feel much more organized for now!

Take a look.

Using our own voices

Here's an interview from EmptyEasel about a mixed media artist. Lots of good ideas to think about but the thing that stood out for me was about being influenced by other artists. We have a new idea or see a work we really like and then study the techniques and the new media. Then the real work starts with making it our own and being focused on what we want to say. We see inspiration everywhere we look and who can say what will spark a new direction. But always it must be our own voice and vision as well as the all important focus and concentration.

I admire artists who can focus on their work every day and not be sidetracked by duties, responsibilities and the ever present needs of others. How do they do it?

Technology and creating art

Here is an excellent article from FineArtView newsletter which I really agree with and it makes me think about how much time I spend on the computer.

I can't imagine being without the cell phone, my computer and the ease of sending emails. However, when I upgrade or get a new computer I spend hours learning the new operating systems and the new upgrades. I can hardly use iPhoto right now because it's been "improved" so much. Some days I would gladly wish it all gone.

So enjoy the article by Keith Bond and see if you think you should have some technology free days. It's sounding good to me right now.

Reception

My paintings were displayed for the month of November at the Fairway Village club house. I didn't know until shortly before time that I was expected to give a talk during the reception. We had some snacks and wine. My talk went well and there were a lot of questions afterwards and the woman who puts on the receptions said it was one of the best talks she had heard in the three years they had been displaying art. Nice to hear!

I didn't talk too much about my own process but rather talked about how to view abstract paintings. I think most people are uncertain what to think or how to approach an abstract painting. Generally the paintings displayed in this space are realistic and smaller than mine.

I focused on how the painting made the viewer feel emotionally rather than trying to be too rational or trying to figure out what the artist was trying to say. I told of my first experience viewing a Joan Mitchell painting at the Portland Art Museum. I had just read a book about her and as I was passing from one area of the museum to another I saw a large painting and was drawn right into it. I was stunned to see it was an 8'x10' painting by Joan Mitchell. I still do not understand why I especially like certain abstract painters like her and Franz Kline. The point is not to understand so much as to see how it makes you feel.

This leads me back to my view about what an artist is focusing on or feeling as they are starting to paint. If I am not invested in my work on an emotional level then a viewer will not connect with it on any level. Which means I must know what I'm feeling as I create a painting. I never work intuitively when I start a painting. I always know where I'm starting from and have some framework about what colors I'll use and whether it will be portrait or landscape. I also know where the horizon line will be since I've been in an abstracted landscape mode for some time now. After that it can all change and be something different than I anticipated. Many times it isn't at all what I started with in the beginning.

Saturday I hung a new show at the Soluna Grills at 4440 SE Fremont near the old First Impression store. Their hours are Monday through Thursday 5 to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday 5 to 10. Happy Hour is 4 to 6 PM. Sunday brunch is 9 AM to 2 PM.

I'll upload a few photos of both shows. The quality of the photos isn't too good and I see a new camera in my future. Surely it's the camera and not the operator! The point I want to make about the two shows is that the paintings look good on widely different colored walls. It always surprises me since my walls at home are more neutral and I do hang/store my paintings on the walls at home. Which leads me to think the color of the wall isn't too critical for me or my paintings.

The top photo is from Soluna Grill and the color isn't exact but it's a sort of dull green. The other paintings are of the Fairway Village show.

It's November and where did October go?

I guess I ask this question every fall about where did the preceding month go.

I haven't been painting for several weeks. Just normal responsibilities and duties I guess. Then I've been dealing with right shoulder tendonitis for many months. Still doing physical therapy twice a week and doing better.

My critique group had a lot of group shows this year and that's kept us all busy.

I have a solo show during November at the clubhouse in the community where I live. The reception is this Thursday. Just found out I'm supposed to give a small speech about my process and history as a painter.

Starting December 11th I'll have a solo show at the Soluna Grill on NE Fremont in Portland. Haven't learned what the date for the reception will be. The show will end January 22nd 2011.

I'm getting a new computer this week and will sign up for the year of classes called One to One. It's been 6 1/2 years and I'm out of memory, the old one is really slow and there have been several operating system changes. iPhoto has a new and wonderful upgrade or two. Plus it's a new type of keyboard and mouse to learn. What fun!

I did buy a new brush which I like very much. It's a Richeson Professional 7010, 1 1/2", Steve Quiller.

Salon show

Here are a few photos from our Salon Show at the Fullerton Gallery. It is a wonderful space for hanging lots of paintings salon style and the lighting is wonderful. We had a great time being together and sharing our abstract critique group's paintings.

PDX-WAM

Wedding gowns for artists

Here is a blog featuring dresses designed by Carolina Herrera based on women artists from the past. I cannot imagine Virginia Wolfe wearing the dress designed for her. She hated dressing up and clothing was not very important to her. Even when she earned enough money to buy good clothing the people in the small town where she lived made fun of her clothing combinations.

It is a wonderful idea to base a clothing line on wedding dresses for women from the past.

Quotes

I've been working on a new artist's statement for the critique group's Salon Show this week end. While doing this I sifted through my store of quotes about art and thought the two below were both very good. Here is information about the show.

Life beats down and crushes the soul,

and art reminds you that you have one.

Stella Adler

Kandinsky’s view, “One begins with a theme chosen in nature,

and calls that representation.

If one moves a step toward the inner perceptions of nature,

one might call it abstraction”.