Ellsworth Kelly, Study for “Blue, White,” 1960 (ink on paper)
Abstract art is my passion and it has also, it seems, become my obsession. I am constantly searching the internet to find abstract painters that inspire me, and when I find someone unfamiliar and new, I saturate myself with their work, post them on Tumblr, and then the journey continues to find more, more, more. I find abstract art a glorious mystery and I am always trying to figure out what attracts me to a piece, it would seem so simple, but it is oh, so difficult. As for my own practice, I am still trying to "learn to paint", abstract, of course. Does one learn to paint? I don't know. I just paint, but nothing I paint is what I want it to be. I paint every day, and I just keep painting over things. Even if I sort of like something, I end up painting over it. I try new techniques and study painters that I admire, but to no avail. I love painting, and I aspire to be a good painter, whatever the hell that means, but in the end, I guess I only have to please myself, and therein lies the impossibility.
14 comments:
Study for Blue, White 1960 is such a strong painting. I well have to google Ellsworth Kelly to look at more work. Keep on painting. One of these days you will reach the impossible!
I know exactly how you feel, I might have written this myself. Just keep at it I believe it will come in the end.
I have never thought to question what makes me like some abstract art - maybe simplicity, an element of form, and most of all deliberation. Study for "Blue, White" I like a lot. Maybe your own paintings to you are just too familiar, that there isn't the mystery inherent in what someone else has done? Don't paint them over; leave them for a year and then meet your former self.
sometimes you immediately hate what you've done and can't bear to look at it or only see the fault in it but sometimes you can go back to it and see it differently ....i hope you've taken photos of the pre painted over ??
or do you wait long enough before doing that...??
I read this post yesterday and then got sidetracked before leaving a comment, but this post and the quote by Ira Glass has stayed with me. I'm inspired! Art is a glorious mystery indeed .... and Tumblr... oh my word, I can't stay away! We just have to keep on creating the art we love and continue learning as we go along.
For many years I painted landscapes and flowers and still lifes... and I remember how frustrated I was when I tried to change to more abstract painting-- that was about 15 years ago. Here is an excerpt from the end of a poem by Martha Graham that helps get me through the ups and downs of painting.. "Keep the channel open. No artist is ever pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine satisfaction, A blessed unrest that keeps us marching And makes us more alive than the others."
It's good to be hard on yourself- the only way to get better. Looking at great art can only help.
Good luck!
I so agree, I love abstract art and that is where I want to end up! hopefully my new work is taking me there...
thanks for the comment on my blog!! no... really your nephew owns Taverna? everyone is talking about it and loving it, looks like a serious hit!! So when you go to Megs store in Old Town... to see my work, you have to tell Meg about Taverna. She just ate there and loved the food!! xx
OTL - a friend of ours has very good technical art skills and can paint such natural beauty - but more recently he has wanted not to paint the whole of anything but one dimension. As he has done this his work has become more abstract - I felt it gave me one understanding of why we can love the abstract - because it is in reality one very non-abstract dimension of reality. Anyway after that ramble - I think the important thing about our creativity is that we best create what it is that energises us and try not to look at it from how others might judge it or whether it is saleable. Go well with the ongoing journey. B
great selection, I looove it!
greetings from Spain,
elena
It is what it is, and it is no more and no less!!!(ROTHKO)
Keep it up
Nice week-end,Willy
your blog is so wonderful...WHERE HAVE I BEEN?
Hi - in response to your previous post, this little book has helped me, although I still never like anything I make:
the war of art - break through the blocks and win your creative battle - Steven Pressfield
Cheers!
Wonderful words here.
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