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Abstracts
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Posted
It’s really nice to see more abstract paintings in the gallery now.
Just an idea… it would be great if the TALP could create an abstract section, like they have created ‘young artist’! I think they need to stand alone!
They're not everyone’s cup of tea, I know.
I abstract my work from actual photos.
Here’s an example of my latest.
Here’s an example of my latest. 
Posted
I saw that on the Gallery, and it's interesting to see its origin - I struggle a bit with abstracts; I can't paint them at all - or I assume I can't, I've never tried to! Some I like, quite a lot I don't, and it's quite difficult to categorize them - is Paul Klee an abstract artist; if so, is Piet Mondrian (whose work I really like a lot, and he too was inspired by real scenes); Picasso's Weeping Woman was described as an abstract, though it's perfectly easy to see what it's meant to be (except by the workmen who found it after it was stolen and used it for target practice, fortunately for nothing more lethal than their left-over lunch, until one of them stopped and thought " 'Ang on a minute....' ").
There could be a category just for abstracts, but I don't know how easy it would be to define what was abstract and what was not. Plus, some might object to separating the abstracts from the rest - it'll be interesting to see what others think.
Using (i.e. stealing) your method, I might try an abstract, just to see how I get on - if I show nothing, you'll know it didn't come off!
Posted
Robert, producing an “ authentic” abstract, ie. One which comes from inside you, is difficult in the extreme. For a few weeks now I’ve been thinking about abstracts ( for a project at the art club). I’ve looked at various artists and I’ve concluded that, for me, it would be abstract expressionism. Pure abstraction ( Kandinsky, Malevich , even Rothco, whose works I have seen “in the flesh”) doesn’t do much for me. I posted something on the gallery where I was trying to convey an atmosphere…I can “ read” it because I did it….some other members possibly saw something in it too. I didn’t give it a title because that’s prescriptive and cuts out interpretation. I’ll be interested to see how you get on.
Posted
That's given me something to think about - I suspect that if I had a yen in that direction, I'd have done it before; I wonder if you can really create an abstract because you feel you might like to have a crack at it, and further suspect that it's a bit more complex than that.... looking at the hideous examples of "socialist realism", which cropped up after the Russian revolution, I think we see artists compelled to develop a sensitivity created not by their genuine inclinations but by the desire to conform to the horrors of orthodox communism. I am under no such constraints, of course! Except .... were we to look at art colleges (not that I'm at all familiar with their current practices) we might find an overwhelming and overarching insistence on conformity masquerading as invention and originality. "Might" is not "is", of course, and I simply don't know if that might be the case - or if it once might have been, one has to trust it isn't now. It will depend on the institution, the tutors, the tutors' own ability or perhaps lack of it, the demands of curricula.
I try never to jump to conclusions based on minimal examples - I have seen work from art students which might confirm those negative impressions; but also, much that doesn't. I am haunted however by a film I saw on the TV donkey's years ago, in which a group of tutors with bags over their empty heads (yes, really) ganged up on a student to criticize his work (eg "it's all TEXTURE, isn't it?" Sneer sneer...): it left me with a very deep distrust of modern art, though of course it was entirely their interpretation of it: and I do wonder if some of those tutors are still alive today, pretending they had nothing to do with this travesty. Reveal yourselves if you're out there: confession is good for the soul.
Sadly, it also left me with a suspicion of abstraction, which these .... people ..... were pushing. Anything but representational painting. So much of this cobblers' awls came from the USA - now the home of far more traditional oil painting: because in the USA, serious painters fought back hard. I think we owe them a debt; because my interest in abstract art suffered badly from seeing that experience - thank goodness I never suffered it -and I doubt such people knew the enormous damage they did to "modern art", including abstraction.
Which is a long-winded way of expressing my suspicion of abstraction; which isn't abstraction's fault at all, and I have overcome it (eg, I admire Rothko) - but I haven't overcome it to the extent of feeling I really want to do it.
Posted
I must admit I find abstract art difficult to understand and having had a couple of attempts very difficult to achieve .
I do however admire the skills needed to achieve a painting that looks really good but then that leads to the question of what looks good who thinks so etc. Now should we have a separate section for abstract , mmm not sure about that and would it lead to a demand for other sub sections.
Posted
I'm interested in this discussion because abstract is what I mainly do (or did before a very long creative slump). I've never used photographs to abstract from, but I'll say that I really like your painting Ellen, far more than mine which I'm adding below. My latest is Twilight 1 (I'm not very pleased with it so there might be a Twilight 2 perhaps hopefully to do it better). This one started with the idea of twilight, how would I show that as an abstract? That is how mine begin, an idea, and how to paint it. The colours next, diox purple, cobalt turquoise, ultra blue, quin red violet, permanent rose and white. The composition because I do like rectangular shaped abstracts, but this one really didn't do it for me. I like colour and shape, and don't really worry too much about "understanding" the ones that appeal. Just enjoy. The abstract artists I really like are not so much the big names but the more "accessible", just love Helen Kaminsky (but couldn't do what she does), found Jane Davies book very helpful, and also some of Laura Reiter. I would like to move more to abstract landscape and have bought Paul Bailey's book which I'll be working from, also love Andrew Field's landscapes in The Artist Jan 2024. And Kate Kelvin's abstracts in the Artist Feb 2024 really appealed.
That said, nothing for me beats wonderful realist art, I just don't do it myself. Robert, your forte is realist art, I really don't think abstract would be what you want to do.
If anyone is still following this thread and has helpful suggestions to offer about Twilight I'd be very appreciative.
Posted
Thanks for your feedback everyone. I must admit I posted it with tongue in cheek. I probably agree with Paul that maybe to not have them stand alone in something like TALP. However, I feel that abstracts should be looked at with an open mind and to try not to over-think them of what they represent. If that makes sense.
Sometimes I paint them from feelings and thoughts in my head, like you have with Twilight, Sandra. I can see where you’re coming from and I do like the colours you’ve used.
Sylvia often comments on my work and admits she doesn’t understand them or what’s going off in my head, but she comments on the colours and shapes. I’m always grateful for that.
I think you could put my work into ‘abstract expressionism’ …. The definition in the dictionary describes it as….’ abstract art which aims at a subjective emotional expression of an ideal rather than a picture of a physical object’
I painted this one from the feeling of the devastating floods we experienced in Nottingham.
Posted
We had a very good session this morning at our art club, topic being “ Abstracts”. Everyone had a go and there were some outstanding results, though everyone admitted how difficult it had been. Some examples had abstract passages, some were totally abstract. I’ll be trying some more I think. Sandra, I like the vibrant colours in your abstract above and Ellen, I think I tackled my attempt like you seem to, from an idea which I wanted to convey in an abstract way. I’ve got a long way to go! As far as abstract categories go…the definition is harder than for representational art so I think this would maybe be a problem.
Posted
Glad you had a good session at your art club, Marjorie.
Abstracts are difficult to do, even the so called simple ones. I’ve had a few failures where I’ve overpainted if they’re on a canvas/panel. The paper ones I’ve kept for a while to try and see where I’ve gone wrong.
I enjoy stretching my imagination and watching to see what happens as I paint. I don’t plan.
I’ve also been extremely lucky to have sold my work too.
Posted
I feel the topic of abstraction (as I see it liberating oneself from the artificial constraint of having to paint something that is out there) is too large and complex to say anything coherent in a short paragraph. To understand it better one has to read and study and visit galleries.
However, I wanted to recommend a recent book Abstract Expressionism: The Women by Landau and Marter which is gorgeously produced (lots of inspiring artworks) and provides rich detail about the lives of dozens of women painters active in the last century. [Many of the works in the book are paintings that were on show in the 2023 Whitechapel exhibition for anyone who managed to catch it].
Posted
I think the mistake I make and I’m sure others do as well is I try to see what it’s meant to be or what its a painting of that way it makes no sense as I’m trying to fit it into a conventional painting, sorry used conventional but can’t think of a better term. Simply put look at it and think well what’s it supposed to be , a boat ,a house , a landscape etc I do think Sylvia has the right approach look at it and if you like it then make a comment based on the colours, shape and feel of the painting.
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