* Eclectic Cafe * (art and non-art chat or share non ab/con work) - Page 10

**davefriend** · #**136** 08-01-2012, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreativekate

Thanks Anthony and Dave- My assignment is due before 20th September and I haven't started it yet! I will have a look at both your links and see if I can find library resources as well as our tutor insists that only one third of our research comes from the internet! We have to get the rest from books, magazines etc from a library. I am trying to understand semotics but it all sounds a bit like talking in riddles to me. What is the meaning of meaning etc. It depends where and how you grew up, your culture, your beliefs etc I don't think you can just say it means this or that. Anyway I have to pass theory so I will put my nose in some books and read some articles and waffle on for a few pages and probably that will suffice LOL Thanks again guys for taking the time to read my post and give me some material.

Hey Kate, my post wasn't directly related to your inquiry and I don't think you will find any resource there for your assignment - but, hey, if there is something there that helps you ...great! but it wasn't an arrow I was shooting toward your target!!! LOL or sorry which ever fits.

madtripper · #**137** 08-02-2012, 07:49 PM

I picked up a copy of International Artist (Auguest/Sept issue) today. It includes the winners of an abstract comptition.

Below are links to the first place winner and the one I liked best - not necessarily in that order.

http://tomheflin.com/works/386542/icarus

http://annahorsnellwade.ca/

I would be interested in knowing if you agree with the choice the magazine made and why? Which do you think is best?

I like abstract art, but to be honest, I don't really care for most of it. I think some is quite bad, the majority is Ok, and a very small % is really good. I don't have art training and I don't really know why I like the ones I like. I just seem to connect with them. So I define "good" as " I like them" - not for any technical artistic reason.

I struggle to understand why I connect with some and not others. if I knew the answer I might be better able to produce work I like more.

When I show abstract art to other non-artists and ask them why they like a certain piece I almost always get the same answer; they see some identifyable object in the piece. When they can't distill the piece into something familiar - they generally don't like the piece.

My other big interest is gardening, and I went through a process like this to try to understand why I liked certain designs better than others. A better understanding helped me make designs that I think are much better than the average.

Katie Black · #**138** 08-04-2012, 10:09 PM

Painting in my studio today I left a rough pastel sketch on the floor, and here it is:-

My dog Louie must have laid on it whilst I was busy, and here he is:-

**davefriend** · #**139** 08-05-2012, 05:07 AM

Dogs just have the greatest expressions. They don't hide anything!!

BlueRiderMan · #**140** 08-05-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madtripper

I picked up a copy of International Artist (Auguest/Sept issue) today. It includes the winners of an abstract comptition.

Below are links to the first place winner and the one I liked best - not necessarily in that order.

http://tomheflin.com/works/386542/icarus

http://annahorsnellwade.ca/

I would be interested in knowing if you agree with the choice the magazine made and why? Which do you think is best?

I like abstract art, but to be honest, I don't really care for most of it. I think some is quite bad, the majority is Ok, and a very small % is really good. I don't have art training and I don't really know why I like the ones I like. I just seem to connect with them. So I define "good" as " I like them" - not for any technical artistic reason.

I struggle to understand why I connect with some and not others. if I knew the answer I might be better able to produce work I like more.

When I show abstract art to other non-artists and ask them why they like a certain piece I almost always get the same answer; they see some identifyable object in the piece. When they can't distill the piece into something familiar - they generally don't like the piece.

My other big interest is gardening, and I went through a process like this to try to understand why I liked certain designs better than others. A better understanding helped me make designs that I think are much better than the average.

I bolded an interesting comment you made - isn't this true of all work - landscapes, still life, portraiture, etc?

Quote:

When I show abstract art to other non-artists and ask them why they like a certain piece I almost always get the same answer; they see some identifyable object in the piece. When they can't distill the piece into something familiar - they generally don't like the piece.

Maybe they're not aficionados of abstract work? Not everyone needs to be. Some ppl just prefer representational work. My experience is that some ppl come with a preformed bias against abstract or contemporary works. I've known some who were very indifferent until they saw a piece in person - especially a Rothko. Rothkos works seem to impact most viewers very deeply when viewed in person.

I subscribe to IA and I can't say I was impressed with the grand prize winner - did you look at his web page to see his other works?
Horsenell Wade has some good pieces on her home page. I probably would have placed her higher.

I would say that understanding what appeals to you is a process of steps - ask yourself what is your very first thought when you see the piece, what is your first gut emotional response to the work, responses you're having to the colors employed in the piece, the shapes or forms, the textures or lack of textures.

Eraethil · #**141** 08-07-2012, 01:28 AM

I've found so far that abstract work sells more to artists than non-artists in small formats. I've also found that abstract work in large formats sells well to folks with homes decorated in a modern style with very large wall spaces to fill, usually younger, but not exclusively the young. But the most important group by far, and the hardest to characterize, is the art collector - they tend to be much more interested in abstraction than the average person, but much harder to pick out from the crowd.

Now if that isn't a vague set of leads, I don't know what is. Sorry, wish I knew more!
Rick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by timE

That's what I thought Rick.

Any abstracters that sell, would you care to enlighten me on what types of people buy abstracts, young, old, rich, etc. I am trying to pinpoint some sort of an audience to get people interested in my work. Thanks.

Eraethil · #**142** 08-07-2012, 01:44 AM

I often wonder the same thing. But in the end, I always come back to the more important (IMHO) question of what I want to say or explore with my art. If I am saying something that people can relate to or exploring themes or styles that interest people, I hope that that will translate into relevance with those "deciders" whoever they are.

Whether that relevance is positive, or negative, or never achieved, at least I am headed towards something I value in art - connecting with an audience.
Cheers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by davefriend

Anyway after reading it I feel it does make me want to ask the question, Who decides which artists are fit to be recognized and proclaimed as bonafide or the real deal and who gets to officially declared through the ages their art as works of 'Great (or even good) Art' worthy of collectors walls and museum halls?

TheRaven · #**143** 08-09-2012, 12:09 PM

http://www.theroot.com/multimedia/wo...=root_lightbox
The Harlem Fine Arts Show in Massachusetts.

**~JON** · #**144** 08-10-2012, 12:32 PM

Thanks for sharing that link, I enjoyed the slide show.

RTT · #**145** 08-23-2012, 10:25 AM

Ah, that's cute (and very stylish!)

RTT · #**146** 08-23-2012, 10:32 AM

I recently wrapped up show of my work at a local hospital. The show featured my paintings (landscapes and abstracts), most from within the last 5 years but some going back over 20 years.
Just before taking down the show, I made this quick (and admittedly a bit rough) video:
http://youtu.be/69oYHzLYZao

kreativekate · #**147** 08-27-2012, 01:54 AM

I loved the video Randy and your paintings are spectacular!

artyczar · #**148** 08-27-2012, 08:42 PM

Good video for a "rough" Randy. Your work has great texture and you can see that in the video.

Eraethil · #**149** 08-28-2012, 12:08 AM

Randy, I apologise for not getting down to see it. So thanks for the video link ; it looks like a really strong show. I think my favourite series is the one you set up in the feature hallway that you showed at the beginning of the video. They really capture the essence of northern Alberta for me. (visions of highway 63)

Hope it was very successful!

RTT · #**150** 08-28-2012, 10:11 AM

Thank you very much Kate

Thanks artyczar - by rough I meant I quickly shot it on one walk through, with a little point and shoot camera. It cleaned up decently with some music and titles.

No problem Rick . thanks for watching the video and your comments. Yes, those feature paintings were my personal favorites too. They were inspired not by northern Alberta but by northern Ontario - but the similarities of geography is one of the great things that unites our country, isn't it?

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