Abstract Painting


"moon howl"
acrylic on canvas

Well, again Phillip has inspired another post with a question about abstract art and my interest in it. I painted "moon howl" in 98. I did try to incorporate text into it,but wasn't happy with it and so partly obscured it.


Did these in 2002 and they are acrylic reverse paintings on plastic. These were so much fun to do, just playing with paint, smudging it with my fingers, scratching out paint and layering colours.
Here is a list of some of my favourite abstract painters. Jackson Pollock Rothko Franz Kline Love this Robert Motherwell painting. My all time favourite Howard Hodgkin My mum and I saw his print exhibit at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne last September and some of the work was beautiful (images on the net don't do them justice at all).

Comments

Dr.John said…
I am not sure I like abstract painting . I want to see something that I can relate too.
Philip said…
This is right up my street as you can imagine. Great composition and great colour choice. I hope you do some more some day if the mood takes you!

I don't know all the artists you have listed but I will check them out. Tnanks for this!
Lynette said…
Wow JB that is really great, I love the colors and composition, agreeing with philip here! Thanks for the links too, really enjoyed looking at them!
jafabrit said…
thanks phillip, lyn, Truth be told I found "moon howl" difficult to do and the process wasn't as pleasant as the results. The little reverse painted abstracts were lots of fun and I can see me doing them sometime again. I may play in my sketchbook with some abstracts :)
jafabrit said…
dr.john I think a lot of people feel that way. My husband would always say, "I don't get it, what does it mean". Well it doesn't have to mean anything on an intellectual level. For me, maybe phillip or paula can help explain better, but for me, it is about the colours, textures, shapes and composition. The interplay of all those elements. Being in a room once with mark rothko's work felt peaceful and beautiful. Howard Hodgkin's work is exciting and vibrant, and some of the colours are luscious how he has blended them. Pollocks works is like seeing a symphony with the eyes. that is the most honest explanation I can come up with.
Cynthia said…
I love Moon Howl! It's fantastic. I also love the composition and colors.

You named some of my favorite artists as well.

I did some reverse paintings on acrylic that I had intended to explore further, but never did. That would definitely be something to explore further.

I also think abstract painting is a lot more difficult to execute than many people realize.
Janets Planet said…
I love Moon Howl too. There is so much to see.
Philip said…
Is it OK to address Dr John here Jafabrit?

Dr John - you may care to look at my blog. You don't have too look back too far to see some articles about abstract art by me and by others. Leaving aside all that may I suggest you just sit and dream to Jafabrit's painting for awhile. In simple terms, absrtact art is to dream to(IMO).
jafabrit said…
the problem for me cynthia and jan with "moon howl" is that I could never do another abstract in the same vein. Maybe I should try again huh! I have more experience under my belt since I did "moon howl"
I agree cynthia, it takes a lot more to make an abstract work than just sloshing it down on a canvas. A whole range of technical experience, and feelings go into them.

"Is it OK to address Dr John here Jafabrit?"

absolutely phillip. I think you put it wonderfully when you said "In simple terms, absrtact art is to dream to(IMO)." I am going to try to remember that.
Unknown said…
We certainly share the same fav artists!! I LOVE that painting - something about the division of planes and your use of color is reminding me of Diebenkorn. Great work.
Anonymous said…
WOW!!!! BEAUTIFUL WORK! I do hope that you do other abstracts and share them! This really isn't to anyone certain person.
Abstract art to me is a way that I can express my emotions. I don't know about others but it gives me an outlet so to speak. It is a way of dealing with everyday life.
Anyhoo, great work! I do hope that I didn't go on to much! Please let me know if I may add you to my list of artist's blogs...?
jafabrit said…
err, well I am blushing a little here :) thanks jessica and angela. I don't mind you adding me to your blog angela, you didn't have to ask, but it was nice of you to :)
Philip said…
To get a cheekie Geordie lass to blush is quite an achievement I think!

If you do decide to pursue absrtact work at some point in the future may I suggest you just go straight to canvas rather than your sketchbook? I only say this because it would be impossible to transfer from sketchbook to canvas and keep the immediacy and life. I reckon you are skilled enough as an artist to cope with the challenge.

You can blush a little more now!!
Philip said…
PS

I have 'linked' you also - I should have done it before!
Janets Planet said…
Hi Jaf. I thought I had reduced the height of my slide show on my blog. Did you save when you were changing the size on the arts council blog?
Janets Planet said…
BTW, I thought that I could change the background by changing styles and then changing back again. Didnt work. I left the revolving one cause it showed that there was more than the one image. Will have to play around more with it I suppose. I wonder if I have to go through each image and delete and then undelete -- tho I imagine just uploading again would do it too. It's free, it's free. :-)
jafabrit said…
hiay Jan, hum, I thought I had saved it on the arts blog. I will check tomorrow. I should leave it alone and get some art done!!!!!!! Not sure I am liking the slide show on the side here, too distracting. going to remove it.
This is great! I love the colors, shapes and textures!..oh and the composition! You're right, at least for me, colors, shapes, textures, composition is what abstract art is all about.

Like I commented on Philip's blog, I used to be like Dr. John, didn't understand abstract at all. I always figured abstract was for artists who couldn't do realism.

Now of course, I feel very differently! I think abstract art comes directly from the artist's soul. An artist friend who inspired me to try abstract out explained it perfectly....'you just let yourself go and paint what you feel'. For me it's a meditation, like a dream as Philip said, its freeing! I feel so happy when I paint in an abstract style. I don't feel tortured like I used to and I don't know that I will ever go back to realism, perhaps representational, but realism is too confining for me now. AND, abstract is not easy! It is very difficult to put your soul on canvas and expose it to the outside!
Janets Planet said…
Hi Jaf

Time may be what you need to make the slide changes. I went back this afternoon and changed the style and got the multi image background that I had originally.
jafabrit said…
paula, to sense that kind of freedom is truly a gift. I don't feel that when I *try* to do an abstract, but that is the same if I try to force myself to do anything. Whatever I do, it has to come from being moved, whether it is representations, classic, or abstract.
Susie Q said…
Love the colors and the way you put it all together. I was not one who appreciated abstract work in the past. Even after taking many art course in college. Several years ago I began to pay more attention as we visited art museums and galleries. I love Phillip's comment...is to dream. Wow. That is SO it. Love it....
As always, you amaze me.
Love,
Sue
Anonymous said…
I really like the acrylic reverse paintings also. I would like to give this a try!
Mark Daniels said…
I love Moon Howl!

Mark

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