Friday, April 29, 2005
In the eye of the beholder…
How you look at a painting can make all the difference in what you see there. For many of us, abstract art can be puzzling. And the work of minimalists (monochromatic works, for example, or canvases with nothing more than a single line) can have us scratching our heads and asking, “What are the limits of painting? What is the absolute minimum a painting can consist of and still be a painting: single shape, single color, single image, or no image at all?”
Our expectations have a lot to do with what we perceive. There’s a story about an art collector who meets an artist at a bar, and tells him about a show he had just seen of abstract paintings composed only of a flat colored ground bisected by a single line. “How simple can an artist be and get away with it?” he asked.
The painter asked him if the paintings were all the same color. The answer was no. And did all the lines run the same way? No, some were horizontal, some vertical. And were all the lines painted the same way? No, some had sharp edges, others rough; some wide, others thin. And were all the canvases the same size? Again no. The same proportion? No, yet again. “Well”, said the artist, “it sounds damned complicated to me.”
Take a look at the work of Barnett Newman, for instance, and decide for yourself.
Friday, April 22, 2005
George Catlin, witness to a vanishing way of life
George Catlin (1796-1872) was a lawyer turned artist, and he was a man with a mission. He set out to document the Plains Indians’ culture, which he realized was in the process of dying out. The more than 100 portraits, landscapes, and scenes of tribal life which he painted, calling it his “Indian Gallery” are now on display at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. Tour the virtual exhibition to share Catlin’s view of “a truly lofty and noble race”. You can also hunker down and enjoy “Campfire Stories”, which combine paintings, documents, and commentary to give a fuller picture of life on the Plains in the 1830’s.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Where Art and Science Shake Hands
If you’ve ever been intrigued by the ways in which art and science can overlap, visit the current exhibition at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, Visionary Anatomies. It includes paintings, prints, collages and other works by 11 artists who use anatomical and medical concepts to illustrate their own ideas. The mission of the National Academy of Sciences is to encourage cross-disciplinary discussions, and the images in this exhibition are a thought-provoking jumping-off place for those conversations.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Helpful Hints for the Artist—#1
Today we’re introducing a new feature that will appear here from time to time: Helpful Hints for the Artist. These “tricks of the trade” are drawn from the vast experience of our Artist/Instructors, and are designed to answer questions and resolve stumbling blocks you may encounter as you progress in your art studies. Check back often to read and absorb our latest Hint—and feel free to respond with your own ideas!
Veteran instructor Howell Dodd contributes this hint:
Let me give you a suggestion I find helpful. After I have spent many hours struggling with a painting, I like to set it aside for several days, facing the wall. Then, after giving it—and myself—a rest, I turn it around and look at it with a fresh eye. In many cases it looks better than I had remembered it! But I usually can see the need for adjustments—some minor or very subtle—that will enhance the picture. The need for these adjustments can sometimes be quite obvious. Other times it is necessary to look at the picture for a long time before determining what changes to make. It’s as if you must patiently wait for the picture to tell you what it needs!
Friday, April 15, 2005
Happy Birthday Leonardo
Google could’ve chosen to note today’s special significance (to Americans, anyway) by posting a logo somehow representing the agony of the tax deadline. Instead, they chose to honor the anniversary of the birth of someone more significant than any staffer of the IRS: Leonardo da Vinci. Yes, that da Vinci, of The DaVinci Code fame. It’s his 553rd birthday today. In addition to creating the whimsical logo (by Dennis Hwang), Google linked to a great list of resources on all things da Vinci.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Former FAS Student Checks In
FAS was founded in 1947, and so our community of graduates and former students is extensive. Frequently, we receive letters and calls from members of that community, bringing us up to date on their current activities and reflecting on the influence of Famous Artists School on their lives.
Just yesterday, we had an e-mail from a former student, Dann Jones. He wrote:
Just a note to say hello and to tell you that many years ago when I was in high school I took the FAS course. I still have and use the instruction books that came with it, and I still learn from it every time I open it up. Although I’m interested in all phases of art, my main thing is in drawing cartoon caricatures at art fairs and festivals. I’m now 61 and just recently have undergone open heart surgery. While in recovery I’m practicing my drawings. It’s great therapy and lots of fun. I will recommend FAS to anyone who is interested in the wonderful world of art.
Thanks, Dann, and good luck with your recovery!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Visiting Montmartre with Toulouse-Lautrec as guide
The current exhibition at the National Gallery in Washington, Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre, is a wonderful introduction to this unique section of Paris. In the late nineteenth century, Montmartre became the heart of a daring, often racy, entertainment industry that lured thrill-seeking Parisians to its dance halls and cabarets, circuses and brothels. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, though born into an aristocratic family. lived in this working-class district for most of his career, and his art is closely linked to its raucous spirit. Although many other artists, such as Degas and Van Gogh, also lived in Montmartre, Toulouse-Lautrec is most well known for his portraits of its people and atmosphere. Walking through this exhibition is like entering his world, looking over his shoulder as he creates his posters and paintings.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Joan Miró—the quintessential Catalan artist
Joan Miró was born in Barcelona and always thought of himself as Catalan, even during the Paris exile enforced by the Spanish Civil War. Today, although his works can be found in museums around the world, the great majority of his paintings are at home in Barcelona, in the Fundació Joan Miró. In this beautiful building designed by his friend and fellow Catalan, Josep Lluis Sert, the works of Miró can be seen in all their lush color and vitality. From the representative paintings of his youth to the free associations of abstraction, his work has a marvelous sense of animation, and it is fascinating to trace his artistic journey over his long life.
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