Dreaming with Dali..

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) is one of the most interesting and recognized surrealist painters in the world. I have always been interested in Dali’s works because his paintings seem to associate with dreams or nightmares.  Subconscious and unconscious was the drive for Dali in his paintings, he wanted to paint images that were dreamlike into real life scenes.  Dali seemed in real life a character himself, dressed with a cape, holding a long walking cane and that weird mustache that was waxed and curled upwards on the ends. Throughout his career, he worked in the theatre creating set designs and costumes along with his paintings..1500 known to be painted. It is also said that in his later years, while he was sick he signed blank canvas therefore, some his paintings were forged or made as duplicates that were sold in the art world.  The painting “The Persistence of Memory” 1931. 24 cm × 33 cm (9.5 in × 13 in) held at Museum of Modern Art, New York City is one of the most recognized paintings of Dali. In college, I was told that this painting could be a self-portrait of Dali (the arm that looks like its melting-shows a mustache appearance) and of his concern with sexual impotence while getting older. Of course, Dali explains that this painting was about time and space with the watches and long range landscape in the back ground. However, he did use symbolism in his paintings, for instance the ants are sign of death or immense sexual desire, clocks are passing of time while sleeping-unconscious mind. Other images appear in his paintings, eggs-are hope and love, Snail-human head (inside human head as referred to Sigmund Freud), and locusts-waste and fear. I have to say, Dali was a unique character but his paintings show us a dream-like world in a real life appearance. I have always been interested in my dreams, but could never paint them out. My recent work have been based on emotion of the painting itself and I struggle with expressing my emotion/feeling within the painting—showing expression! Surrealist paintings are much deeper than that—subconscious and unconscious is the key. If you like surrealist painters, give me one favorite surrealist painter and why do you like that artist?  I will list some of mine, Man Ray, Frida Kahlo, Joan Miro, and Marcel Duchamp.
"I am painting pictures which make me die for joy, I am creating with an absolute naturalness, without the slightest aesthetic concern, I am making things that inspire me with a profound emotion and I am trying to paint them honestly." —Salvador Dalí, in Dawn Ades, Dalí and Surrealism.

Salvador Dali “The Persistence of Memory” 1931

Answer to Abstract: Emotion or Motion?

Artist: Viola Lee (2) is motion-brushstrokes are loose and carefree; you can see movement with the sky, river, and trees. It does give some kind of emotion in peacefulness because of the use of color. I like how the brushstrokes come off the canvas, this gives a continual perspective that makes the painting move from the canvas itself-movement.

Artist: Fania Simon (3) is emotion-due to faces, or eyes this painting is automatically recognized as an emotion; colors are reds and blues—are also an indicator of emotions: reds-passion, love, hate, confusion; blues-sad, royalty, depression, authority.  Also, the boxed frames with the faces gives an emotion, for instance boxed in feelings, or closed off feelings. Your eyes don’t have an easy flow when viewing this painting, your eyes seem to focus on each  box/square one at a time. The only motion you do see are within the boxed squares with the flow of color. However, this painting does show emotion first.




Viola Lee (2)

 


Fania Simon (3)



Abstract: Emotion or Motion?

Recently, I have been creating abstract paintings to loosen up my brush strokes at the same time tring to capture the feeling or emotion within the painting. It has been a challenge while keeping the 7 elements of art in mind: Texture, form, shape, space, color, tone(value), and line, while I am painting. I start with a black canvas without no concept (idea) in mind, simply going with emotion. Using my other senses--music I am listening to, the temperature in my studio, and the feeling of applying the paint on the canvas with the use of color. (see attachment). The painting (1) I did, I felt passion (value) bursting out of me, rough edges (texture), and confidence/easy feeling (color). Definitions of Abstract and motion: Abstract-thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects or actual instances. Motion-(verb)-to direct by a significant motion or gesture, as with the hand. The definitions I found are very interesting and it applies to abstract painting. I think all abstract paintings are with both emotion and motion along with all elements of art, what do you think? I have attached two paintings that shows movement and emotion/feeling, can you tell the difference? please leave comment on which one you think is movement or emotion feeling. (do not vote on my painting). Pick number 2 or 3. Let's have some fun!! Thanks, Lucy.


Lucy Inserra 1



Viola Lee 2

Fania Simon 3

Let’s talk about Dripping…

I have noticed this technique is being used a lot in paintings in my local area and beyond, it’s interesting and I plan on doing the technique myself to try out. But, has this become a new art movement? This technique is called “Dripping”, in which is used with acrylics, water colors, and sometimes in oil paints. If you notice in the attachments, the technique is created when the paint brush is loaded up with paint and then water or another solvent is used and is placed on the same spot where the paint was applied on the canvas and then gravity takes over…a happy mistake or accident occurs. Of course, the canvas is on a vertical plane or easel to have the drips fall as they may. Of course, this isn’t something new in the art world, because Jackson Pollock introduced the pouring and splattering technique, in which was done flat on the ground with industrial paints. However, I do see that this dripping technique is being used more in our current art world. But, what is the fascination behind this technique? (The attachments were pulled off Google search and I provided the names of the artists).

MY INSPIRATION SAYING WHILE PAINTING...

A teacher once told me, "A GOOD painter can paint what they see, but it takes a GREAT painter to paint what they think they see". I love it! I say this to myself every time I paint.

About Jackson Pollock paintings..

A friend and I were talking about Jackson Pollock paintings and in how he might've intentionally used body forms in his abstract paintings. This is seems logical, Jackson Pollock studied surrealism and tried to tap into the unconscious mind with the use of imagery in lines. It's interesting to look into his paintings and see underneath the poured and splattered paint that there is imagery there of faces and body parts. (see attachments and judge for yourself). In researching on Jackson Pollock, I found he was a heavy drinker and was constantly tring to better himself as a painter. What is more interesting, is that during his 3 months being soper, he created the most wonderful abstract paintings of his career..Lavender Mist, No.5 is the most recognized painting. I just thought it was interesting and wanted to share this information. Thank you, Friend-D.S. for bringing this up for conversation and awareness on one of my favorite artists.

What colors make Brown: Answer.

Red, yellow, and blue can make brown. Also according to the color wheel theory: red and green also make brown. Nice to know.

What makes the color Brown?

I was asked the other day from a friend, what makes the color brown. I went blank! I love color and know my colors, I thought to myself. I work in oil paint, and if you are not careful, you can create the color brown easily without trying. So, I thought about it before looking for the correct answer and I figured it out! So, tell me without looking, what colors make Brown??

Answer for: what came after expressionism?

Gorky

Rothko

Pollock

Kline

The Art Movement that came after Expressionism, was Abstract Expressionism. Arshile Gorky was concerned in between the two and he was also known to be a Surrealist Painter too. Why I mentioned Arshile Gorky is because Mark Rothko studied under Gorky, Rothko was another Artist who was developing Abstract Paintings. Gorky, Rothko and a few others made the way to the next art movement in America and beyond.  Abstract Expression hit in America around the 1940's-1950's--two artists come into view: Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline.

What is expression in painting..

Expression in painting was founded in Germany. One of my favorite artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is a good example. Expression is far from the traditional painting with perfect composition, muted color palette, and the body form. Expression is the opposite, form is applied with lines that are not real, but rather a feeling. What I mean by that--you see the form, you place the brush on canvas with expression and go to the next brush stroke without going over the same brush stroke you just made. I found specific music really helps with the spontaneous brush stokes and also a longer brush will help to. Now, expression painters also use vivid color, imaginary color or straight out of the tube color. Color is my favorite! Explore it as much as possible. I have attached a image of Ernst..take a look! so, let's play trivia..What art movement came after expressionism ? Hint: was founded here in a America,  artist: Arshile Gorky.