Abstraction Continued

In the previous post I asked what your feelings about abstract art are. Can abstract expressionism be as high an art form as the portraits of Renaissance masters or the still-life paintings of the Dutch? While a common misconception is that abstract art is for artists that don't have the skill to paint otherwise. The reality is that it is a choice and a difficult one. To build up a painting day by day and yet maintain the brushstrokes or the colors that you initially liked is a true challenge. I am firmly for abstract art and let me

show you why.

First of all, I can't get enough of Gerhard Richter as I stated in a previous forum at our main page.

This is an artist whose ingenuity results in a massive collection of art. His technical skill can not be disputed as displayed in his portraiture

Betty

1988

102 cm x 72 cm

Oil on canvas

Saint Louis Art Museum Collection

But he made the choice to also create other pieces that focus on color, paint, brushstroke, and composition rather than subject matter.

1977 Abstract Painting

200 x 200 cm. Oil on Canvas.

This use of color, varying texture and opposing brushwork creates something spectacular and as much art as his more formal work. One of my favorite traits of Richter is his way of softening brush stokes in a way that seems to create a glowing blur of motion as if the image was running through the frame.

Another German abstract artist is Renata Bernal. Her work is a showcase for heavy paint and brush work. Bernal has layers upon layers of heavy oil paint that build up the surface creating a texture you wish you could reach out at touch. Her use of de-saturated color and sweeping motion is also stunning.

A modern artist working on abstract paintings as well as abstract instillation is Mark Pomilio who focuses on line rather than varying color to create his imagery. His pieces are beautiful and almost simplistic while being very intricate. The line work is definitely gripping and when in an instillation it's absolutely grand.

"Form +Function: Mathematics in Contemporary Art," Sept. 2006 - Jan. 2007, Noyes Museum, Oceanville, New Jersey.

A few sights I found that are dedicated to this sometimes slighted art form are Abstract Artist, Abstract Artist .Org , and American Abstract Artists. These sights promote, support, and feature abstract artists. A few current artists I stumbled upon while on theses sights are Paul Seftel, Scott J. Morgan, and Stan Gregory.

If you enjoyed what you read or would like to talk more about abstract work stop by our main page and take a look at our forum where we have some discussion about abstract work. Join the buzz, view art events near you, enjoy all things art. Be sure to also follow us on Twitter too!

Abstraction

Figures on a Beach. 1931. Picasso

Hello again! Sorry for all the hellos but I don't know if I get leave behind this simple greeting because it seems to add some formality that I feel is needed to get started. That being said, let's start looking at abstract art. I want to pose just a few questions and then tomorrow we can really look at some images.

The other day I had a dentist appointment with a man who is a very good dentist and a very horrible art appreciator. During the visit he both scoffed at Picasso and said "Bob Ross is very good." I'm not knocking Bob Ross, I grew up watching (and adoring) Bob Ross, but his work isn't in the same league as Picasso!

As a painter looking into abstract art I find this way of thinking sad. The lack of curiosity into what the brush strokes look like, how design and composition take the place of images we know. I understand that Picasso falls into the Cubist movement, but my poor dentist can only see something he can't understand. After this he then asked me, "Can it takes days to create an abstract painting?" I almost laughed, taken back by this blunt, but innocent, question. I responded that it can even take weeks or months; this seemed incomprehensible to him.

So what are your thoughts on abstract art? Is it an artless art or a treasure we should hold on to? The American Abstract Artists seem to think it's worth while. Next time I'll go over some more contemporary artists and hopefully we can get into some better discussion.

Make sure and follow us if you like what you see! And as always, don't forget to stop by our MAIN website by clicking here. We provide everything you need and need to know about art! You can also stop by our art forum by clicking here. Give us your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Collaborate with other artists and art lovers via the Art Fortune Art Forum! Can't wait to see you there.

The Spooks of Art

Happy Halloween all!

I wish every one of you a great and safe Halloween and hope that you all have fantastic costumes to put on tonight. In the spirit of this day I have been taking a look at horror art, something that I admittedly am not very familiar with. I love pieces with a lighter side to their inspiration, but for today let's take a look at the gruesome, ghoulish, and gory.

The first artist is Eric Swartz whose art just teems with discomfort and the fright of the slasher film. While viewing his drawings, paintings, and images for print I felt like I was viewing the old 50s horror film posters. Swartz's style is a fun homage to the entire genre.

Another artist I stumbled upon was Mia Makila. Her ingenuity and lighter palette seem to instill more fear in me. The ingenuity of the images as well as the juxtaposition of the light colors and dark nature work very well.

Finally I ended with the Halloween artwork of Chad Savage. I enjoyed his overt use of the jack-o-lantern as well as the black and orange color motif. Though not something I would hang on my wall, Savage creates the world somewhat cliche but always enjoyable world of scary pumpkins.

Love horror art and would like to educate me and others? Check out our forum for horror art!

Make sure and follow us if you like what you see! And as always, don't forget to stop by our MAIN website by clicking here. We provide everything you need and need to know about art! You can also stop by our art forum by clicking here. Give us your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Collaborate with other artists and art lovers via the Art Fortune Art Forum! Can't wait to see you there and Happy Halloween!

The Artists are Loose This Halloween

Happy Halloween weekend all!

If you are looking for something spooky for tonight or tomorrow I suggest a small indie film called Murder Party. This 2007 film follows Christopher Hawley about his Halloween evening as he receives an invitation to a murder party. Unknowingly, he falls into the trap of an overzealous lot of artists who wish to create the ultimate in art: murder. As one of the artist states, "His cause of death will read, ART!"

This fun thriller poses the question, what is art? There is some quirky banter between the artists revealing their secret fears, insecurities, and lies that they tell each other. There is also a good portrayal of what many sometimes perceive as the art type: crazy, frenetic, substance fueled, and overly sensitive. I enjoyed the movie's ingenuity and while I don't feel it gives a great picture of what an artist is, it's fun to see a horror film with that slant. Follow our forums to read about horror art or write if you have seen or end up watching this movie!

Make sure and follow us if you like what you see! And as always, don't forget to stop by our MAIN website by clicking here. We provide everything you need and need to know about art! You can also stop by our art forum by clicking here. Give us your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Collaborate with other artists and art lovers via the Art Fortune Art Forum! Can't wait to see you there.

A Game of Connect the Dots

Adele Bloch-Bauer's Portrait

1907
Oil and golden and silver foil on canvas

Hope everyone is having a terrific day, I know mine has been pretty peachy. Let’s dive into some art, shall we?

As a child I used to doodle every day, cover my walls with huge crayon scrawlings to cover the overwhelming white space, see pictures and images in wood grain. This active search for similarities in our visual world and the need to interpret them through more images has grown into my love of painting and my need to connect all the information I learn in a day. In class I enjoy nothing more than building my knowledge of an object or idea from various sources. This happened once as I was learning about the physical formation of oxbows in Geology and then seeing View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow, 1836; the beautiful oil painting of Thomas Cole.

It’s a simple idea, but I enjoy this game of mental connect the dots.

This late summer I went on a brief road trip to Flagstaff, passing through Jerome and Sedona. All three locations are a haven for artists and if you need a little rest I highly recommend taking a trip through some of Northern Arizona. While exploring some of Downtown in Flagstaff I spotted a great mural.

It is on the wall outside of a small bar called Speakeasy which is just a small space fashioned after Roaring Twenties speakeasy. The character that caught my eye though, was the lovely woman in the golden gown. I was just tickled that someone had recreated Gustav Klimt’s portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer.

Klimt had a way with images that simply burst on the canvas. Apart from the glittering gold that catches the eye, the portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is wonderful for the mix of reality and design. Her soft face and hands have a pale, but life-like color and appearance. She is placed within a very stylized gown that is only created with strong golds with a few small color additions. Klimt’s use of a limited palette and repetitive shapes creates a flow through the gown that contrasts the person of Adele as well as the spiral designs and textured background. The use of white to draw attention to the figure and face of Adele Bloch-Bauer is beautiful as well.

Klimt’s paintings are heavily stylized and utilize repetition create something very different than other artists. His abstracted images surrounding more realistic figurative painting has always struck me as almost collage like or even with a mosaic feel like golden tessera seen in San Vitale. These are the reasons I will always love Klimt; beyond his haunting imagery he created pieces that appeared something beyond a two-dimensional painting.

If you want to learn more about Thomas Cole, Gustav Klimt, or art in general check out our website. For a barrage of cool images follow us on Twitter and be sure to get chatting on our forums! I will be to sure add a thread about the above mural so we can see who’s been to the mural and maybe decipher all of the characters of the wall. See you all there!

Fluxus at ASU

Here is another short blurb about an art show! Sorry for those not in the Tempe area, I promise more about art in general is coming soon; I’m working on some exciting topics to come. Anyway, on to the details!

This upcoming show is actually a BFA senior show at ASU’s Gallery 100 at the School of Art. The show Fluxus, will feature works from 6 graduating students and will be running from October 24th through November 4th, 2011. An opening reception will be held this coming Tuesday, October 25^th, 2011 from 6pm – 8pm that evening and I believe some if not all the artists will be there. It’s always a great experience getting to ask an artist about his or her intentions as well as just shooting the breeze with creative minds.

I am excited about going to the reception to see some work of my peers and hope to see some of you there too! If you want more information about art or more images to indulge upon visit our main site, Twitter account, or join the buzz on our forums.

Some Assembly Required and a Quick Hello

Hello All!

My name is Marielle and I am currently an intern with Art Fortune and have the wonderful pleasure of getting the chance to work on this blog. I know it’s been a while since the last post and I hope to refresh things here with some new topics and consistent posts. There should be some good exploration of all things artistic including paintings, ceramic work, crafts, movies, books, and I’m sure other things that will manifest with time.

As a heads up for any one in Arizona around the Tempe area ASU does have a call for art for a show called Some Assembly Required. DEADLINE IS TODAY and I do apologize for the late notice. Some Assembly Required is now accepting 2D or 3D work from ASU students and community members. Send submissions to ASU.Assembly.Required@gmail.com.
Submissions are due October 21^st so take some pictures and get to emailing. Specifics are on the Facebook event so take a quick gander. If you are just looking for a show to attend make sure to check it out November 7 through November 18 at the ASU Art Building West Annex and enjoy the local art.

I hope you all enjoy my time here and will take a look at our forums, Twitter account, and website for all things art!

The Tempe Festival of the Arts is almost here! Are you excited? The Tempe Festival of the Arts is held twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. This spring it will be held March 25-27, 2011 in the Mill Avenue District and admission is always free. This is an event many art oriented people look forward to in the spring and fall. It is unlike any other art event in Phoenix drawing thousands of visitors each time it is held. More than 400 artists showcase and sell their work. There are also food vendors along with a beer and wine area. Fun activities for kids to participate in are also provided.

So if you want to enjoy some art and fun activities for the weekend head on down to Tempe from March 25-27 for the Tempe Festival of the Arts. For additional information and interest in this event visit the website.

Make sure and follow us if you like what you see! And as always, don't forget to stop by our MAIN website by clicking here. We provide everything you need and need to know about art! You can also stop by our art forum by clicking here. Give us your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. Collaborate with other artists and art lovers via the Art Fortune Art Forum! Can't wait to see you there.