Abstraction: Abstract art is art that is not meant to clearly represent anything specific. Abstraction is meant to draw feelings and emotions from its viewers, without creating a realistic representation of people or objects. A large part of abstraction is the role that paint plays in the making of an artwork. Abstract art is free of form and heavily focused on the use of paint; how and where it is placed. The artwork presented above is abstract in that it is not a clear representation of a specific object. Feelings are meant to be drawn from it based on how it was created (movement, medium, placement, etc.)
Modernism: Modern art has a different approach in that art is more refined and simplified in a sense. Although modernism does not represent a specific subject (much like abstraction), it is focused on flatness and honest use of paint. Colors are respected and shapes are straight forward, as though a level of perfection is wanting to be reached. In modernism artists are to be true to paint, no realistic representation that would distract from its purity.
Color Theory: Color Theory is the theory that colors can carry feelings and emotions if used properly. It is well known that certain colors can ellicit specific feelings, and artists use that to communicate messages to their audience. A specific mood can be presented simply by the use of a scale of colors. Color Theory is a large part of modernism as it focuses on color itself, and not on the use of objects or accurate representations of them. The focus is on the use of paint and color to transmit a message.
Artwork: (I was absent due to fall break when we gathered our paintings and made a class collage. Also, my skin color paintings vanished during that transtion...However, I was excited to be able to take my abstract paintings home and create and independent piece of work)
A postmodern artits would see this image in a positive light as it is not meant to represent any specific subject, rather its focus is on form and carrying a message accross through color and placement of paint. The artwork is mainly about the paint itself and not about honest representation. Perhaps a postmodern artist would not approve of the pasting, the deconstructing and constructing of the artwork as it takes the focus away from the purity of the applied paint.
Questions for my students:
1. Would you consider this artwork to be modern?
2. Do you consider this artwork to be art? Why or why not?
3. How do you respond emotionally to this artwork?
4. Do you see a stronger focus on form or on the use of paint?
