Hard Edge Abstraction

I gotta say I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of doing a "hard-edge abstraction" piece for class. I tend towards gutsy expressionism, letting the paint go where it pleases and laying it on thick gushy in some areas, and thin and drippy and delicate in others, letting the paint take on a life of its own and speak for itself. So when the teacher gave us a lecture on hard-edge abstractionists, and about how meticulous and strategic their paintings are, I was lacking in enthusiasm. I decided to take a minimalist approach instead of a crazy intricate, Frank Stella approach.  And so these floaty, hovering triangles were born. I can't say this painting isn't gutsy in its own way, though. Apparently I have to tone down the background because of how crazy thick I laid it on. And if you see the triangles in person, you'd be able to see how even thicker than the background paint is, so thick that they appear to be their own objects sitting on top of the painting. 

Oh well. As the saying goes, you can take the girl out of expressionism, but you can't take expressionism out of the girl.... or something along those lines.

There is nothing I have to say. This song says it all.

collage

 spray paint, stencil, imitation gold leaf, xerox transfer of a gustav klimt painting, and acrylic paint on board.

spray paint, stencil, imitation gold leaf, acrylic paint and a xerox transfer of an egon schiele drawing.


i posted these on facebook and within half an hour people wanted to buy them. i feel like a big-shot. not really though. i've actually been struggling this semester. figure drawing is not easy. i have the same teacher for that class as i've had for most of my painting classes. he's a wonderful teacher and i really value his opinion. so it's sort of a wake-up call to suck at something in his class. 

art really is an ego destroyer when you're in a class with people who are a million times better than you. most of the time it doesn't bother me because i'm just little old me who is there to learn. but i guess it's getting to me slightly right now? otherwise why would i be writing about it? 

whatever. all i know is that making art is a good discipline if you want to remain humble.