9. Expressionism & Impressionism

In my fine arts class, we learned about a certain type of art called Impressionism. It was looked down upon in that time period since each piece was simply an ‘impression’ of whatever was painted. It then gave the appearance of not being completed. In reality, this style simply told others that painting is just simply that. It shouldn’t matter whether an artist took the time to paint the most detailed piece of work or if he just dabbed away to make the eye form the picture itself. I find it interesting that impressionist paintings are still decently detailed and interesting to look at.

Claude Monet was a prime example of an Impressionist. There is still a significant amount of detail that tells the audience what the picture entails, but the thin brushstrokes and dabs of paint make for less detail than artwork of the time periods before. Thick amounts of paint are applied to create a texture on the surface once dried. This term is known as impasto. I’m interested in attempting this technique in my future paintings.

Sainte Lazare Train Station – 1877

The Portal In The Sun – 1894

Sunrise – 1872

Now Expressionism is considered to be the opposite of the Impressionism style. While impressionists focus on the overall essence of a painting rather than the detail, expressionists focus excessively on detail. They focus mainly on the exaggeration of details and on the use of a repetitive pattern of quick brushstrokes. The use of exaggeration is utilized in order to create emotions for their audience. The below piece is by Gustav Klimt, an expressionist painter. The painting was intended to focus on the rising role of women in that time period. Fear was intended by the inclusion of this kiss occurring on a cliff. It basically stated that the role of women would cause trouble and lead to imminent danger.

The Kiss – 1908-09

Expressionism in detail
Impressionism in detail
Courtesy of theartstory.org

8. Journey of whatanartthrob

Casa Batlló – Barcelona, Spain

Here’s a little history on my (currently) favorite building by Antoni Gaudí at the Modernist Museum

Casa Batlló

The task of keeping up with a blog is definitely more than I first anticipated. There were only some times where writing came naturally, so a deadline did complicate things. My creativity is put to a test on what aspect of art I want to expand on. Using social media was also a challenge since normally, I’m not a big time user other than to check a timeline. However, it did give me a chance to put myself out there. I’ve realized how connected people can become with others who have similar interests.

It wasn’t too difficult to find new artists and works I wasn’t aware of before. This would then lead me to artists they might mention or critique. It became an inspiration to find that one artist I can say is considered a favorite. I also didn’t find it too difficult to include photographs of artwork. While I had first intended to only post ones that I had personally discovered, it could also work to include pieces I’ve discovered online or from other people. Finding some sort of criteria for each blog was at times challenging, but it was soon resolved due to my high interest in this subject matter.

I’m looking forward to producing new artwork in response to pieces I discover through social media. I can become more connected and find artists I admire. This will, in turn, further broaden my experience with art and keep my ideas and creativity lively. I hope to discover new areas that contain art such as architecture or even sculptures; hopefully in the future, I will be able to visit these places and add them to my collection of favorite pieces. I hope for a deeper understanding of art and how it can affect people who are both familiar and unfamiliar. This blog was intended to be informative in a simple, yet detailed manner. If I restart a new blog, I definitely learned a lot from the use of this one. I can take the tools I learned and utilize them, so I can continue to put myself out there.

An Artist Interview

Check out my current interview with a friend of mine:

This can give you a look into how she perceives her own art and her hopes for future pieces.

7. Featured Blog

artistinaustin’s blog review

Castle Hill – Austin, Tx

A blog I discovered is called artistinaustin and I like the layout of her blog. She features her own artwork along the right side, and  It’s interesting how she informs her audience of locations and exhibitions to visit in Austin that contain art. She mentioned Castle Hill, which I had also mentioned before. I find it unique that with each location she mentions, she also gives an event currently going on in case any viewers are interested in going. It’s more than just telling people where they should go, but it’s a more detailed suggestion. It catches my interest since it’s art based in a different city. I’m unfamiliar with the city of Austin, so it’s nice to learn areas I can possibly visit in the future.

It’s also interesting how she promotes her Etsy account, which sells her own art. That inspires me to try the same with my own work. It’s a really good way to put artwork out there and reach new viewers. There’s always the chance that one person who comes across the Etsy account could become a faithful customer for those doodles. It then turns into an ongoing business where they might be able to request a certain type of doodle. That kind of loyalty is something I search for when I expose my artwork to others. I enjoy moments when someone asks me to do work for them.

I’ll definitely continue to see what other suggestions she posts in the future. I would possibly like to compare these art pieces in Austin to ones that I might find similar in Houston. It’d be interesting to see the differences and similarities in art between the two cities. Although each city is known for different things, art is still a common aspect for Austin and Houston. Following this blog gives her audience a chance to explore art if they’re not art-oriented or to simply see more of the ‘weird’ city.

Austin’s slogan – outhousedesigns.com

6. Everyone is an Artist

Personal doodle

I know a few of my friends that also consider themselves artists. One focuses more on painting with oil, another might prefer drawing with ink, and the third likes pastels and markers. It’s interesting to see each person’s style next to another. Everyone is inspired by different things, so the content matter will change based on the person. Being aware of other kinds of artwork can be very beneficial for one’s own art. It gives way to new inspiration; you can either try working with that medium or do a response to that art.

A large part of my inspiration comes with the use of bright colors or intricate detailing of a photo. I then want to recreate that detail maybe in a different design or color scheme. I like that sense of detail either in geometric forms or free-flowing forms. Honestly, art can go in any direction, so it’s open to whatever I feel at the moment. I have found a few artists that also work with very detailed drawings; the cleanliness is noticeable, inspiring me to recreate a similar piece of work. While it may sound like a far stretch to work off of someone else’s work, it can start off as you intend, but slowly transitions into something completely unexpected but remarkable.

Someone doesn’t have to be able to draw at the most amazing level. I’ve used an outline or stencil to start off and it can make it much easier. Then one can just fill the space with doodles or just a color. As long as you use some sort of creativity when going forward with a project. There’ s no time limit to finish a project; each person thinks and works completely different. Therefore, while it’s beneficial to work off other ideas, it shouldn’t control your own process and dictate how the project should be done. There are numerous way to go about art; it becomes enjoyable as long as you approach it open-minded.

My current inspiration is the variety of sketches by Peter Scully:

https://wordpress.com/read/post/id/80911/91540/

5. MFAH – A Home Away from Home

Museum District in Yellow – Houston, TX

Now I’m originally from Houston, Tx and one of my favorite areas to visit is the Museum District downtown. If one is to find themselves in this area, it’s almost a must to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. While a lot of people hear museum and automatically associate the term with tedious tours of art from centuries past, there is so much more to be explored. My favorite part has always been the light tunnel (also a connection between buildings) in various colors by James Turrell. It was meant to be seen as an appreciation of light. Unfortunately, this amazing artist passed away in 2013, but his work is still honored in the museum.

There’s plenty to see and do besides the light tunnel. Food is incorporated into this vast art scene. There are food trucks in the area as well as the cafe inside the museum. MFAH also has options with both art and food (here). Here’s a general idea on their webpage on deals for the museum:

Pick up a Lunch + Look loyalty card, available at participating food trucks and at the MFAH location of Cafe Express. When you present the card—along with your lunch receipt from Cafe Express or a participating food truck—at any admissions desk, you receive free same-day general admission on weekdays from 12 noon to 2 p.m.* Enter the Museum during those hours, and stay as long as you wish, until closing time. Guests receive a stamp for each visit, and when 10 stamps are collected, the Lunch + Look cardholder is eligible for a half-price individual or dual MFAH membership.

While it can become costly when purchasing tickets to a museum, the MFAH can be quite accommodating. On one of their webpages (here), they list different ways to enter the museum for free. Whether it be for children under the age of 18 as a school trip or just a random after school/work visit on a Thursday, anyone is able to appreciate artwork at a lesser price. The museum is filled with many exhibitions and features many pieces of art as well as films; it’s worth paying the price as well as taking the free ride. A trip to this district is definitely worth the drive, whether you’re originally from Houston like me, or new to the art-infested city.

An Easter ‘Tail’

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4. The what.an.art.throb App

what.an.art.throb

I’m really inspired to develop this app. The home page would feature a new artist video each week. It’ll present a deeper look into each artist. On the same page, there will be a featured art piece that will link to more pieces and information regarding that artist. It’s a basic homepage, but the app will have much more emphasis on the additional screens.

Users can discover new artists based on the type of art. The app helps users to discover new types of art and artists. It’s much easier to navigate with tabs that link to artists who work with that type. Some people aren’t aware or know what plaster is or how to work with metal. There’s amazing pieces of artwork in the world that this app presents to the art lover and non-aware.

It would be great to expand on this idea for the app. If someone was interested in a certain artist, there could be an option to see where that artist’s pieces are located on a map. This physically gets people more involved in art and learn about things they weren’t aware of right near them.

3. Printmaking

Wall at Castle Hill in Austin, Tx

I’ve recently discovered printmaking and it’s interesting to see what can be created through printing. I found nine types of printmaking in detail here, but here’s a simplified list:

1. Woodcut – image is carved into wood, inked then printed, leaving reverse image.
2. Linocut – similar to woodcut, but linoleum is used instead for a cleaner look.
3. Etching – drawn on a wax-coated metal plate and soaked in acid, leaving wax; the paper then absorbs the image in reverse.
4. Engraving – similar to etching, but etched directly onto metal plate to be inked and printed.
5. Monotype – ink or paint is created on a smooth surface and finished in a reverse image.
6. Lithography – most difficult method; an oil-based implement is coated with a water-based liquid, then ink is repelled by water, filling in just the image.
7. Screen Print – an ink-blocking stencil is applied to a screen and when wiped, it passes through, transferring the image. (Andy Warhol’s work is an example.)
8. Digital Print – Used with a computer and ink-jet printer; it’s much easier to produce multiples of a piece using this method.
9. Transfer – Moves images from one source to the next using rubbing, tracing, pressing or other techniques; examples are gravestone rubbings and carbon copies.

“Two” by Kiki Smith

A notable artist I watched an Art 21 video of is Kiki Smith. (Here’s the YouTube video as she works.) While printmaking isn’t her only art method, it’s this method of hers that caught my attention the most. The above image is from the video attached where she edits and prints it. The video showed how much precision and focus it takes to make sure a piece is prepared correctly. The outcome looks amazing and seems that it would be more difficult if attempted by just pencil.

Printmaking doesn’t have to be an expensive and difficult form of art. There are easy at home projects that can be done with even styrofoam. Using just a pen or pencil, you can carve a design into the foam, paint over it and use it as a stamp. The raised parts left over from the carved design will leave the design since paint will not be on them. (The original project I found was here, a post from 2011 in the Poppytalk blog.

Ruth’s DIY Printmaking project

Note: On my next post, I’ll dive into the app idea I’ve been looking into that would branch from this blog.

2. The Artless Begin to be Artful

Driving under an overpass in Los Angeles

https://illustrationsbyjessie.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/intermediate-painting-part-1/

Jessie Vittoria’s work is phenomenal. She is an amazing painter on a level I am not close to. Let’s compare:

(Jessie’s)

(Mine)

My piece was a diptych (two-series painting) which derived from a collage I had created from magazine scraps. While the level of detail in my work is presentable and not bad for a beginner, it is precise while her work has a lighter, whimsical tone. She seems to have a controlled hand with the lightness of the circles within her art. She has freedom as an experienced painter to go where the paintbrush takes her. I struggled to paint within the lines I had recreated from the original collage. I am also a perfectionist, which tends to dominate my focus on details.

It’s interesting to point out that anyone is capable of recreating a collage piece like I have. One can just trace what they want to repaint using either a light box or even the light through a window. Some people like a more structural approach, such as using the grid method. This can make things a lot easier especially if you want to recreate the original image smaller or larger. It becomes much easier for some people to work one square at a time rather than estimate where the eyes are in reference to the nose, for example.

There’s always a choice when it comes to art. Whether it’s more comfortable to draw/paint from reference or use the grid method with an original photo, the final product is still a work of art. Everyone is capable of being an artist, no matter the level of experience they hold; it’s a matter of practice and perseverance. My artwork has come a long way to what I’ve seen myself create. Sometimes I surprise myself, even with the painting shown above. I will have to find an earlier piece I did and show the progress, maybe even recreate it now.