12.04.2008

Week 5 - Abstract Land - it can be heaven, or not



I am finally sitting down to add some copy to these photos; and it's not 2 in the morning. Yay!
Week five's compositional idea is a repeating shape and in this case it is the rectangle- or square. My sketch is there at the bottom, and very linear, but it is only a starting place.
The orange painting was the first - shape after shape after shape. In the blue piece I started with black shapes, obliterated them, built new shapes and did the same; about the time it became too busy with tedious little shapes I would cover it and build it up again.
Last week I talked about trying to stay process focused, and actively working with the right side of the brain. That would be the part considered most visual and certainly the most perceptual and intuitive. Non-artists think that this is where artists live - I wish. Art is not magic. In reality, creating art takes concerted effort, technical knowledge and some idea about putting it together; things that the left side of the brain is better at. But there are times when art seems like magic. This could be either, when it is flowing so well you can't believe it or so not-working, you think you've lost it. So we swing between the two poles that are moments, sometimes even minutes, when the music takes you away and paint flows for pure pleasure and that sudden blip in the creative flow that can stop you cold and grip you with fear.

Week 5 Class Work in Abstract Land


In class we have gotten in touch with some things I need to mention: -first, making non-representational art is hard - harder than it appears to the novice. Any of us who ever said or suggested that a "5 year old could do that"- will never say that again.
There is also an idea that doing abstract art will loosen you up (artistically). "HA!" That ain't happenin'. During class one can almost hear the sound of brain activity, deep concentration and under the breath muttering- "this is hard; this is so hard."
The pieces shown here belong to:
1. Gina Quintana, at the top
2. Josie Perea, below
Click on the image to view it larger.