I am inspired by so many artists .... this i think reflects the diversity that permeates through much of what i do.
So how does this come about ?
A large part of my arts practice includes reading, research and seeking out artists of interest.
First ... current artists of interest include :
Matisse - love the flat shapes and colour
Rothko- love the colour, transparency and abstraction
Jasper Johns - love his encaustics, ways of working and
Cy Twombly - love his mark making and sculptures
Andy Warhol - love his use of bright, flat colour his subject matter
David Hockney - love his paintings and use of technology in creating art
Brett Whiteley - sensuous drawing in exploring space from the model into the landscape
Jeff Koons - love his mind - I watch many a talk with him ... here is one. and a documentary here.
Tacita Dean - love her work & ideas, writings and her mind. Lovely works here. an interview here
William Kentridge - what is not to love about his work and writings?
Junko Oki -love her work, as this is my kinda stitching. Loving the imperfect becoming quite itself
As can be seen from this short list of artists, that come immediately to mind, my interests lie in the abstract realm, and of mark making, repairing and colour. (perfect). Even Junko Oki's stitching relates to mark making and an abstract notion.
As I am in the throes of creating these Hockney/Warhol inspired artworks, this article is prompted by these two artists who have been cropping up, in my journals, from time to time since my initial, serious, forays into art a few years ago.
i have decided what appeals to me in Hockney/Warhol's works and applied it to my photos - whilst always attempting to make it my own.
Images: 1 - on the road, midlands highway Tasmania
2 - Coles beach Devonport, Tasmania
3 - along the foreshore Coles beach Devonport, Tasmania.
4 - the old derelict post office East Devonport Tasmania.
5. - part of a building in Launceston Tasmania.
I love that David Hockney remains relevant by keeping up with all technologies in creating his artworks. At 85 he began using the IPAD to draw daily and explore projects that became huge printed pieces he exhibited.
Andy Warhol I love his use of flat colour and taking everyday objects to create art that puts up a mirror to our lives, causing us to look at who we are.
It is interesting they are both known, along with Richard Hamilton and Roy Lichenstein, as the original Pop Artists. Current Pop Art created today is keeping the movement alive and thriving. Pop Artists today include Jeff Koons, Alex Katz and YayoiKusama.
These Pop Artists use flat colour to and imagery to highlight consumerism, celebrity culture, and icons, symbols of everyday life. They create for the masses, on the streets, outside of the elite and not for galleries.
I have taken what inspires me and applied it to where my gaze and interest falls - Tasmania - the landscape, the buildings, the ocean, fruit!
I look forward to seeing where this aspect of my work goes as i continue along this pathway.
Fruit.
As many of you will know I am 'into' pears - love to photograph, paint and draw them. These images below began as photographs OR a painting OR a drawing of pears and I applied this new explorataory inspiration from Pop Art.
The steps i have taken to create these.
Take a photo or a drawing, painting.
Bring it into pixelmator pro or one of the other apps on the iPad
If there is a lot of contrasting elements, texture and such, reduce the image to as flat as you can get it. You want whole areas of shape that are not broken up too much by colour or texture (although this is something i do play with in an attempt to make it my own).
pick a colour from your palette and fill in a shape or two in the image. you can also pick a colour by using the colour picker - so i can pick out the green of the pear, adjust it to the value i want, and fill the whole shape (or background) using that colour making it a flat shape of colour.
keep going across your images adjusting shades/value and filling in whole shapes until you are satisfied with the outcome
One day if i ever figure out how to film while I work on the iPad I shall do so, so you can see step by step.
Comments