Comments on Watermarks: Expressionism versus impressionism

well put Sarah :>) I don't like tick boxes, pigeo...

2009-06-23T09:41:31.234+01:00

well put Sarah :>)

I don't like tick boxes, pigeonholing or labels either - and sadly education now has a lot of it :>(

I dont care much for isims, and I dont thing any t...

2009-06-23T09:09:26.440+01:00

I dont care much for isims, and I dont thing any title can disguise a poorly executed painting. Whatever area other people put ones work into it must have the bones of good solid understanding of shape form and line, colour too if it is a painting. I dont think that those things have a definate formula tho, it is possible to break rules and make your own but you can allways see if there is underlying weakness...well I think so anyway.

One of the things I've enjoyed about Watermarks is...

2009-06-21T11:46:06.071+01:00

One of the things I've enjoyed about Watermarks is getting to recognise which artist has done which work before looking at their name tags - style comes through in spite of different mediums and experimentation with subject matter. I think most of the 'isms' in art were created after the stage was over - many didn't know what style they were at the time - why we all babble when asked!

thanks.. Lindsay, my blues are cobalt blue, fench...

2009-06-20T15:45:56.041+01:00

thanks..
Lindsay, my blues are cobalt blue, fench ultramarine, and prussion blue as well as cerulean blue, which I mix and match with ochres and siennas and umbers and alizarin crimson, depending on what tint or shade I need. I love working with Sennelier, whose opigments are strong and most of them are really lightfast.
ronell

I think it's really interesting how these names fo...

2009-06-18T23:13:34.361+01:00

I think it's really interesting how these names for painting styles usually don't come about until a "movement" is well under way.

For me, the most important issues is does the painting ring true? Weather it's realism, impressionism, expresionism etc.... Does the artist have a deep feeling or a deep attachment to the subject.

Your work always has this feel to me. Plus you really know your way around the color wheel.
What blue are you using here? I'm working on trying out various color triads.

You have a very distinct style of your own which i...

2009-06-18T22:32:37.397+01:00

You have a very distinct style of your own which is good :>) - not a conscious put-on style, but a natural one that comes through however you work.

This one is again, really lovely.

I agree it's sad when people try to work In The Style Of, instead of developing their own personality. It's always a little laboured and feels a bit 'off' as they are putting on someone elses personality, it never has the depth of the original.

I agree with Jeanette that we all have our influences but they should be varied - my influences are as diverse as Schiele (LOVE his incisive but fluid line), Toulouse Lautrec, KJ, Monet, Pissaro, Expressionism, Rembrandt, Sargeant, Turner, Whistler, Degas and a whole host of others.

I agree with K that I really enjoy these discussions :>)

I just say contemporary about my work - which has elements of both impressionism and expressionism I think?

Sometimes I am after a mood in a piece (rather than an emotion) - wildness and movement or serenity and peacefulness for instance

All aspects of art are so open to interpretation, ...

2009-06-18T19:11:21.334+01:00

All aspects of art are so open to interpretation, it becomes difficult to have anything cut and dried, even if in definition form.

As for style, you do have a style, whether you realize it or not. I can tell through familiarity with individuals work here who has posted simply by seeing the little thumbnail on my site.

We are all influenced by any number of people and styles of work throughout our lives. As for artists expressing emotion through work - well I have a problem with that concept in that it rarely rings true. Yes, emotion may affect the outcome of a piece, but I don't believe it is the driving force. Most artists simply draw or paint something because it is something that pleases them or that they want to draw or paint. The critics are the ones who like to put emotion into art where there is none.

What a thought-provoking post! I know exactly wha...

2009-06-18T19:04:13.152+01:00

What a thought-provoking post! I know exactly what you mean about being pleased if someone identifies a specific style in my work -- and also tend to babble off in all directions if asked about my style. For the record, when I first saw la Loire scintillante, I thought 'impressionist, for sure' but decided it was expressionist after I got into your discussion.

What I like about this blog is the freedom it seem...

2009-06-18T10:11:46.024+01:00

What I like about this blog is the freedom it seems to give us to talk about ideas more.

Thanks for the discussion of painting styles and for the definitions. I've looked at the Impressionism one before and always felt it didn't quite 'get it' right but difficult to say how it is wrong!