Abstracts

[Walter]

A couple weeks ago at an artist's reception (I've been forcing myself) a sculptor (and not too bad of one) said I was/called me an 'abstract expressionist.' I hardly think so, especially after looking it up. I don't really mind or care, but I noticed that in abstract paintings the definition seems to be that there is no relation to realism, only emotion. In abstract photography, the image is of a real object and seems to have no relation to emotion. I'm pretty sure I'm missing something here. Any clues?

-

[Walter]

Abstract Illusionism (No sense in wasting a perfectly good thread...)

George D. Green
Ancient & Sacred
http://www.artincontext.org/image/image_main.aspx?id=4369

George D. Green
186,000 m.p.s. ( C )
http://www.artincontext.org/image/image_main.aspx?id=4368

Art in Context (more images)
http://www.artincontext.org/image/default.aspx?Term_ID=188

Abstract Expressionism

Robert Firestone
Death Scene 4
http://www.artincontext.org/image/image_main.aspx?id=5015

more
http://www.artincontext.org/image/default.aspx?Term_ID=7

Grandfathers & Influences
http://abstract-art.com/abstraction/l2_Grnfthrs_fldr/g000_granfathers_glry.html


Abstract
http://www.artincontext.org/image/default.aspx?Term_ID=6

Avante-garde (OT)
http://www.artincontext.org/image/default.aspx?Term_ID=153

Rogerio Reis
Sur la Seine
http://www.artincontext.org/image/image_main.aspx?id=5288

of interest:
http://abstract-art.com/abstract_illusionism/ai_04c_st_george_uccello.html
""That horse has been trying to jump out of the canvas for five hundred years," B.B.

http://abstract-art.com/abstract_illusionism/ai_05_vermeer_concert.html

Interesting slideshow -- Defining Illusionism
http://abstract-art.com/abstract_illusionism/ai_03_put_into_persp.html

-

[Antarctican]

I can't answer your original question, but I enjoyed all the links you provided.

[Walter]

I can't answer your original question, but I enjoyed all the links you provided.

Yeah, I'm struggling here to figure out what was I said, but maybe I can bury it :)

I'm thinking I'm seeing:

Abstract
- Expressionism
- Illusionism

and then from the looks of things on the sidelines at the moment, lyrical abstraction.

Some catehories do not seem to apply to photography at all, or at least I haven't been finding examples.

I've noticed though, that it seems on some posts I've seen on various sites here-n-there, that abstraction, is looked down upon in many cases if anything is altered in the photo.

Exceptions seem to be:

-the use of software filters
-computer generated designs
-a social condition
-an exceptionally well done piece

These little equations or loops I seem to go through always zero after I go through them. By that I mean, I'm better off just studying and being inspired by work I like and doing my own thing. This is also helpful in defining my work to myself. Some day I'd like to develop an artist's statement that reads something different than, "I do whatever it is that I want to do", but not much different :)

-

[Walter]

I read this somewhere yesterday looking through the inks llisted above.

"In studying abstract art, start with Monet and work forward"

If I can find it again I'll rewrite and credit the quote properly.

Claude Monet:
http://giverny.org/monet/welcome.htm

This seems to be a pretty good site, following are some pages from it that stand out to me right off the bat;

Biography (timeline):
http://giverny.org/monet/biograph/

- 1860 Monet meets Pissaro and Courbet.
- 1916 - 1926 Claude Monet works on twelve large canvas, The Water Lilies. ...

Claude Monet by himself

In 1900, Monet has become famous. On the occasion of an exhibition in Paris a journalist, Thiébault-Sisson, made him tell his life. On November 26, 1900 the newspaper "Le Temps" published this autobiography in which Monet builds himself his legend. The text is spicy but doesn't always reflect reality faithfully ...

http://www.intermonet.com/biograph/autobigb.htm

Have to have some of these:

Orangerie Grand Decorations and Triptyches
http://www.intermonet.com/oeuvre/grddeco.htm
"I have painted these canvases as monks of former times illuminated their missals ; they don't owe anything to anything else than the collaboration of loneliness and silence, to a fervent, exclusive attention that borders on hypnosis."
Claude Monet

from the page:
http://www.intermonet.com/oeuvre/

Inspiring to me:
http://www.intermonet.com/oeuvre/ombrelle.htm
These, among many others blow me away-- The flow of the dress and the clouds in "La Promenade, la femme à l'ombrelle" & "Essai de figure en plein air (vers la droite)" could make a most beautiful illusion photographically.

I have to be careful. My fondness for impressionist work can be consuming. Monet is pretty much where I left off years ago when I had aspirations, and problems.

Although, if anything, I'm a photographer (arguably to some I suppose), but for me it's important to study the painters. The camera is my crutch--a tool that allows me to be productive. Photoshop and likewise programs give me a way to express my creative ideas and freedom in composition in my photography/imagery.

Continuing:
Monet's influences;

Johan Barthold Jongkind

To my great surprise, the English man kept to his word and the following Sunday, the three of us had lunch together. Never was a meal so gay. It took place outdoors in a little country garden under some trees and the food was wholesome country fare. But, with a full glass of wine in his hand, sitting between two obviously sincere admirers, Jongkind did not quite feel at ease. The unexpected aspect of this meeting amused him but he was not accustomed to this sort of thing. His painting was too new and far too artistic to be appreciated in 1862 at his prices. Moreover, no one was as bad at making himself valued, as he was.
http://www.artnet.com/artist/21608/johan-barthold-jongkind.html

Monet had quite a taste for Japan (but never visited)

Hokusai Katsushika
http://www.intermonet.com/japan/hokusai/
My fav is "The Great Wave at Kanagawa ", the second displayed on the linked page above.

Hiroshige Ando
http://www.intermonet.com/japan/hiroshige/
So far, just looking real quick, "Naruto Rapids at Awa", stands out to me. Wow. All are just so good!

I'll have to spend more time studying on these two dudes.

--

[Walter]

Meanwhile, back in the darkroom, ...

(Bold italics are mine)

ARTISTS and Photography

The invention of the Daguerreotype caused considerable concern to many artists, who saw their means of livelihood coming to an end. Delaroche is credited with claiming that painting was now dead, whilst it is said that Sir William Ross, on his death-bed in 1860, commented sadly that "it was all up with future miniature painting." It is also claimed, but with scanty evidence, that Turner, looking at an early daguerreotype, commented that he was glad he had had his day!

Charles Baudelaire despised photography as being a product of industry. He felt it provided an impression of reality that did not have the 'spiritual momentum' which came from the imagination. Whilst reviewing a photographic exhibition in 1859, clearly saw the need to put photography firmly in its place:

"If photography is allowed to supplement art in some of its functions, it will soon have supplanted or corrupted it altogether....its true duty..is to be the servant of the sciences and arts - but the very humble servant, like printing or shorthand, which have neither created nor supplemented literature....

"Let it rescue from oblivion those tumbling ruins, those books, prints and manuscripts which time is devouring, precious things whose form is dissolving and which demand a place in the archives of our memory - it will be thanked and applauded.

But if it is allowed to encroach upon the domain of the... imaginary, upon anything whose value depends solely upon the addition of something of a man's soul, then it will be so much the worse for us."

...

above from:
http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/

So here's what I'm thinking regarding my original muddled question: Traditionally, photographic abstracts are pretty much impossible, or at least really awkward to make according to the standards of painting abstracts as defined earlier. As photographers, many, many, many, many photographers become accustomed to and adept at working with photoshop, more -=abstract=- photographic works will made. I think for a true -=abstract=- though, photographic techniques will merge to a point with tablet and digital painting processes which will be used for the true abstract as described.

I'm not going to sweat if I'm making sense with all of this rambling. It's helping me procrastinate on another matter and helping to build up my post count.

Note:
http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/
http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/history/ray.htm

[Walter]

Dept of Who'd a thunk-it?

The Twittering Machine - Paul Klee, 1922 (http://www.waggish.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/paulkleetwitteringmachine.jpg)


... a blend of Nature's spirit with the essence of industrialization. It features four birds sitting on their roost, connected to a hand crank ...



Annette Labedzki (http://ezinearticles.com/?His-Most-Famous-Painting---The-Twittering-Machine---Paul-Klee&id=2509997)