N.B., Click on images to zoom.
'Before the Dance'
Oil on Panel
Private Collection
Private Collection
This oil painting of a dancer delicately painting the eyelash of a colleague just before they go on stage to perform, is all about the importance of precision.
It's a characteristic that I've been forced to think about recently.
I've been taking Beta Blockers in an attempt to calm my shaking hands when painting. In the last couple of years, I've developed what is called Benign Essential Tremor, - in other words, my hands shake. No great problem in normal life, but it affects my painting. In particular because I tend towards a fairly detailed approach, and this approach is becoming more difficult. It takes longer to produce a painting, and it is very much harder than it was. So maybe I'm going to be forced to work in a broader way, concentrating on composition, colour, texture, etc and all the other elements which are not so reliant on precision.
I'm musing about this, not to feel sorry for myself, but simply because it prompts thoughts about the approach of many of the great painters of the past who, as they have got older, have painted in a broader way than they previously did when younger.
We often read about artists such as Turner, Degas, Rembrandt, and many, many others, whose work changed in this way. This 'broadening' is usually ascribed by art historians to the artists' developing breadth of vision, and 'feel' for the quality of the paint. There's probably something in this argument of course, but I'm also wondering whether this 'broadening' is also to do with the simple fact that they were getting older? The hands start shaking, the energy is less than it was (and hence the acute concentration necessary for detailed painting also decreases), the eyesight is in decline, and so on?
Not quite as adoring as the art historians take on the matter, but possibly true?
Rembrandt's early, precise, portrait style............
Whole image ...........and a detail.
and his late, broader style.
Degas' early, precise, painting style............
....................and his late, broader style.
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By the by, - here is a show you may be interested in :-
United Artists driven to the Edge !
What?
We are a co-operative of northern artists, united in their determination to drive forward the type of art appreciated by the majority of the public, and we are staging the first Alderley Edge Art Festival. They say that the dominant modern art world has for too long been the embodiment of the story of 'The emperors new clothes '. The time has come for real artists creating real art to fight back !
Location:
Festival Hall, Alderley Edge
Dates :
2nd - 5th May 2014
Who and why :
Many of ACO (Artists Co-operative) members are self taught, and the youngest member is just 15. All create real images and all have undergone the often traumatic experience of dealing with galleries.
Artists have always experienced rejection, but in a recession hit world, it's become harder than ever to make it .The added fact that the art world these days is more interested in 'names' and art for investment rather than art for it's own sake doesnt help.If you are lucky enough to be picked up by a gallery, be prepared to lose as much as 75% in commission, and even more in some cases. On those terms its hard to make a living.
Our Ethos :
Artists looking after artists, to promote our member's work, and to give them direct and personal connections with art lovers in a way that galleries never do. We have set the quality bar high so that no one visiting our exhibitions will be disappointed . We find the venues, share the costs and the work equally, and promote the venture ourselves, right down to delivering the advertising and invitations personally.
Our shows will be staffed by the artists themselves, giving the prospective buyer a unique opportunity to engage in a more personal way, and on a level playing field.
The Event :
The private view is from 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Friday 2nd May.
(During the evening an auction of works, donated by the artists, will raise funds for local charities).
The show is open to the public
Saturday (3rd May) 10am - 6pm,
and Sunday (4th May), Monday (5th May) 11am - 4pm
Also on Facebook ACO. Artists Cooperative
quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz “details, details............” quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz
Who painted this skull, and in which painting?
(The answer will be in the next posting.)
And here's the answer from the last posting -
'The Court of Mantua'
by Andrea Mantegna
quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz “details, details............” quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz
"Don't worry about your originality. You couldn't get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick with you and show up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do."
Robert Henri
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