UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #47

“Sandplay” – Donated to St.Hilda’s School, Southport.

(Acrylic)  

90x120cm 

ABOUT THE PAINTING AND MY BOOK:

On 27^th October this year, St.Hilda’s School, Southport, Australia (which is my old school) will be hosting a dinner to commemorate the school’s 100^th year.  I have donated a painting titled “Sandplay” for a raffle.

"Sandplay"

The money raised will go to the Supporters of Creative Arts (OCA) that encourages and supports students interested in the creative arts.

The painting “Sandplay” is featured on post #20 on this blog site where I describe the techniques used and the meaning behind the painting.

Tanmayo reading her book "The Power of Creating"

This painting "Sandplay" is also on Page 63 of my new book “The Power of Creating” This book can be downloaded free as an eBook or purchased at cost for $75.oo. Go to http://au.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3457759 to view a sample of this book.    

This book talks about creating.  It takes you, the reader on a  

·        *      Journey through a life of creativity,

·        *      Find out how to understand abstract art, and how to

·        *      Stimulate your own creativity. 

It is for people who are creative and want to use this creativity and also for those who love art and want to understand it better.  It combines anecdotes from my life, my art and my art therapy career. The book is a 40 year retrospective of my painting.  In it I explain the difference between art and art therapy and give the reader an understanding and appreciation of abstract art.

 A lack of understanding of Abstract Art prompted me to write this book.  This lack of understanding has created a public bias that has affected the credibility of abstract art.  It is often seen by the general public as not being “good” art.  “Even a child could do better” has been heard directed at the world”s most celebrated abstract art.

When viewing Abstract Art ask yourself…

Does the artwork create a feeling – happy/sad/angry?

Does the colour/title/composition/media convey a feeling?

                      Does size matter?

            Does it make you think or question?

Do you have to interact with it in some way i.e. technology/ using lights/sound/touch?

            Does it tell a story or no story?

                        Does it convey an idea?

                        Is there more than one layer of meaning – complexity?

                        Is it ambiguous or contradictory?

                        Is it just a pretty picture empty of meaning?

                        Does having no title make a statement?

Does it deliberately break the technical rules of art?

Is it purely an exercise in art technique with no meaning?

Does the composition feel balanced/unbalanced?

Do the colours harmonize/jar?

Does your eye travel to one area or all over the painting?

            Does the price of the artwork influence your perception of it worth?

            What was your initial response?

                        Has your initial response changed after considering the above?

It’s about you too – it’s an interaction - a two way form of visual communication.

If there is one person who learns to appreciate abstract art more and enjoys it better, then I have achieved my aim.

Be creative in whatever you do.  Just be creative.

Enjoy.

Tanmayo.

http://www.buderimartstudio.com 

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #46

Title:   “Grok” 

(Acrylic)

90x90cm

THE IDEA BEHIND THE PAINTING

The word “Grok” is new.  It was invented by the author Robert Heinlein.  It means to intimately and completely share the same reality or line of thinking with another physical or conceptual entity.  According to Wikipedia grokking is the intermingling of intelligence that necessarily affects the observer and the observed.  This painting is about networks and networking and its social affects.

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

The advent of computer technology has not made the human race any happier.  In fact it seems to have restricted human qualities such as communication, relationship and love.  It is based on the binary system of mathematics, and I would predict, as humanity evolves the human brain will develop with a bias to extreme thinking – the human race will develop a “binary brain”.   All nuances in the spectrum between the two poles of any continuum will disappear leaving just the two extremes.  This will be reflected throughout all levels of life, ie. religion, wealth distribution, political ideologies etc.  It is happening now.

In this painting I used a wide variation of colour on the spectrum Blue/Orange.  There are many variation of Phthalo Blue used.  Also I used an Orange made from a blend of Fluoro Orange and Vermillion. 

I intentionally made the Orange constant and flat to contrast with the dynamics seen in the abstract subject which is the point of focus. This abstract subject is what represents the networking as per the internet.  The Orange “hybrid” colour is derived from two colour types, which gives the painting its intense impact and adds to its edginess.   Orange and Blue are complimentary opposites and are meant to have this effect.  They are extremes on a spectrum of opposites, just as Black and White are extremes.

White is used in this painting to get the Aqua but Black is not used.  Alizarin Crimson is mixed with Prussian Blue to get the Blackish colour.  

The concept of “connectivity” as implied by the title “Grok” is considered and examined throughout the process of creating this piece.

There is no right way to hang this painting.  I leave that to each individual’s taste.  The painting is technically balanced but also poses a sense of imbalance with the main subject disappearing off the canvas.  This imbalance creates tension which was my intent for this painting.  I do not feel that modern technology has created balance and harmony – in fact I feel that it has increased edginess.

The defused plane of Tan colour that obscures part of the main point of focus represent the future which is uncertain and cloudy.

There is no way a viewer could ignore this painting.  It is meant to be “in your face” through the colours used and its composition.  It is about the “Brave New World” of our future.  However I do not necessarily see the future in a pessimistic way.  Nevertheless, we all need to be consciously aware in the moment and not assign our individual responsibility to others who seek “control” of our hearts and minds through advertising and the mass media which includes the internet.  It is used as the banner for this blog.

http://www.buderimartstudio.com

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #45

“Black Tango”

(Acrylic)  

90x74cm 

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

This painting was initially an exercise in colour and composition.  It has no personal meaning and was named after the exercise was completed.  

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

Black is a difficult colour to use as a base colour.  This prompted me to create a painting using this colour.  At the time I was not using black and white at all.  I spent a number of years just using three primary colours and mixing secondary and tertiary colours from these three. Of course I varied the blues/reds and yellows so a not to get bored.  This discipline gave me a very good knowledge of colour.  So a deviation from what I was doing presented quite a challenge.  

The composition is primarily of verticals.  These are positioned so as to achieve balance.  The tension of the lime green in the upper left is off set with the rectangles in the lower right.  There seems to be a metred rhythm to the composition also which is achieved by the placing of the abstract shapes.  

The name “Black Tango” adds intrigue to the finished exercise.  It is an evocative tilte... what do you think?
http://www.buderimartstudio.com 

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #44

Title    “Hera – Queen of Heaven and the Goddesses”  (Acrylic) 120x90cm

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

This painting is another from the “In the Images of Goddesses” Exhibition.  I am reviewing this painting today because it was shown in the video by Natalija Brunovs that was released this year called “Tanmayo – Abstract Artist” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ2MzRmoKBA and serves to demonstrate my painting process. In the video you will see in Subjects 1,2 & 3 (above) how the painting reaches it’s finished form.

The painting represents the energy surrounding the Greek classical goddess Hera.  Hera was the Queen of the Goddesses and married to Zeus.  The snake is one of her symbols, so I started the painting with something that represented a snake.  She also is depicted as having electrifying energy and a commanding and regal personality. You can see that the painting, like many of my works, went through a series of metamorphoses.  

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

The finished painting has a strong diagonal emphasis in its composition.  A diagonal often is unsettling to the viewer and suggests discord.

Gold is symbolic of majesty and I have used a gold colour (similar to yellow ochre) to convey this.   At the time of painting I mixed all my colours from 3 primary colours so this tertiary colour was more citron (derived from yellow and purple).  The compliment to this gold colour is a blue/purple seen at the opposite corners of the diagonal.

Perseveration (or a repeated line) gives the painting a dynamic feel.  The painting is very subjective and represents some aspects within myself, which are unique to this goddess. 

The whole series in the exhibition examines those characteristics that are within all of the human race (male and female). The series also honours different aspects embodied within myself.  The Goddess series should be seen as a whole because it was painted and exhibited at an important turning point in my life and is a celebration of my being. 
http://www.buderimartstudio.com