Mueller's work emphasized the relationship between humans and nature. To the left, we're looking at "Nude in Landscape" from 1915 done in tempera on canvas. This is one of the pieces that always captures my attention when I visit the VMFA. The softness of the nude body against the contrast of the rougher paint strokes really grasps my attention. I am not incredibly fond of the color combination he chose but it works. The piece is peaceful to look at while maintaining the integrity of the brushstrokes. I replicated the piece in marker to get a feel for the shapes he used. Once I viewed my drawing, I noticed I made the woman smaller in my picture. I think the original is beautiful and wonder if that is a simple matter of replicating the picture incorrectly or if somehow the media has brainwashed me and I made her skinnier because of that! I don't know! I'm glad I noticed it though! No brainwashing for me! People are beautiful in all shapes and sizes. First of all, the art of living; then as my ideal profession, poetry and philosophy, and as my real profession, plastic arts; in the last resort, for lack of income, illustrations. Doing a project everyday has me scrambling for ideas! My latest idea for inspiration though is to copy some of the "masters" paintings. First I want to imitate their actual piece and for a second project, I want to create my own ideas and executing the project/painting in their style. This is my first of this series based on Paul Klee's 1937 piece, "Clever Child" done in charcoal and watercolor on chalk paste-primed ground on paper on cardboard. Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Klee to read a little more about Klee. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science. Albert, I just want to change one word in your quote- Art. I think the word art can be substituted for science and speaks volumes about my new favorite artist at the VMFA- Ryan McGinness. Originally from Virginia Beach, Ryan now lives and works in NY. Called a "warholian for the technology age" Ryan simplifies images and creates stunning colorful pieces using screening processes. These are some of his pieces I viewed. I love the chair and the breakdown of Andrew Wyeth's "The Country". It's like a combination of drafting and more design oriented arts mixed with glorious expressionism. I guess in some ways his work could be viewed as sacrilege to more classical pieces but I find it invigorating and exciting. I do not have much patience with a thing of beauty that must be explained to be understood. If it does need additional interpretation by someone other than the creator, then I question whether it has fulfilled its purpose. I have taught the elements of art and the principles of design and still cannot tell when I'm entering pieces in shows what is "good" or not "good". I read an article in ArtBusiness.com (http://www.artbusiness.com/how-to-recognize-the-best-art.html ) in which several collectors, art curators and gallery owners were asked the same question- "What makes good art?" . The answers vary as much as haircolors do. I took my sons to the VMFA for their open studio time and walked around the museum taking pictures of things I liked as well as art pieces that make me wonder "Why is that considered good?". It's not necessarily that I find the pieces "good" or "bad" but am curious about why one would be considered fine art over another. I also played devil's advocate to those souls who might say, "it looks like they just painted a square" or "put a couple of paint strokes on a canvas". I love the subjectivity of art and that we're all entitled to our opinions. So here's mine: Debatable pieces of art at the VMFA. Enjoy, debate but experience the art! |
Jamie K. WeinsteinJust a girl with a lot to say! Categories
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April 2014
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