Notes on Art and Abstraction

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595824465393416133.post-76581645898310328412008-07-15T11:35:00.000-07:002008-07-15T12:32:45.004-07:00Notes on Art and Abstraction "I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom,and so on." ~Mark Rothko~ There has always been a great deal of fist shaking and finger-pointing being done in the arts. Any new form of expression is at the root of many angry debates. One cannot have a discussion about any art form without first having a discussion about the nature and the purpose of the art being made. There is the issue of Art for Art's Sake and on the other polar opposite the far right wing view that are must uplift the nation. There have always been different opinions as to what constitutes good art and what constitutes bad art. The general view is that artists are more open to new ideas and modes of thought . Historically artists and the arts have been at the forefront of many a revolution. Ironically more often than is a failed artist who begins to dictate the terms and conditions of what constitutes a work of art. An example of this can be found in the words of one of the most infamous of failed artists, Adolf Hitler. His views on what was and wasn't art were very clear in his mind. "As for the degenerate artists, I forbid them to force their so-called experiences upon the public. If they do see fields blue, they are deranged, and should go to an asylum. If they only pretend to see them blue, they are criminals, and should go to prison. I will purge the nation of them." I get very nervous when I start hearing blanket statements coming from anyone concerning style or form of expression the arts whether they be pro or con. I get equally nervous when I see and hear resistance to experimentation and a the favoring of one form of artistic expression over another. I am not a proponent of state sponsored art support either. Hardliners are scary individuals...pure and simple.Abstraction still stirs debate amongst artists and art lovers alike. The biggest question that faces "abstractionists" is why the heck they do it. Lets face it Realism (a.k.a illusionism) is a very hard thing for everyone to give up, especially the more conservative amoungst us. For the new artist it brings compliments, accolades and groupies when they start getting it right. Who in their right mind would want to give up all that? You don't have to if you don't want to. Whatever floats your boat is fine by me. I do encourage the more open minded to start thinking about new ways to approach your painting and to begin to experiment with abstraction. You will quickly see that it is the logical next step for most serious painters. Although abstraction on the surface may appear simple it is not. An in depth understanding of chiaroscuro, colour, technique and compositional theory as well as your materials are a must. Just have fun and see where it leads you!Bodhihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983725800744466360noreply@blogger.com