Thursday, October 2, 2008

What Attracts You to Art?

Daily Ink Number 9,
Orange Roses

I'm beginning to get a certain comfort from starting my day with 10 minutes of ink painting. It sort of sets the mood for the rest day!

I've been looking around at art I admire, trying to decide what it is I like...have you ever done an exercise like that? It's been very profitable for me in the past. In fact, it helped me make the decision to move towards painting in oils. Ask yourself what it is that really draws you towards an artist's work. Then ask yourself what you don't prefer about it. You might just find some answers for yourself.

Let me know what you discover!

9 comments:

Teresa Mallen said...

Hi Rose,

I am always asking myself what attracts me to a piece. I do this when I am looking at art on-line, in a magazine or whether I am in a gallery. I agree, what you discover in your answers can influence your own artistic path.

Jeanette Jobson said...

Yes, I've done this too. I like to analyze what has mass appeal too. Colour? Form? Composition? It does sometimes push me into taking similar structure in a piece.

Miki Willa said...

This past year, I have really been trying to pay attention to what it is I am drawn to in certain paintings. Is it colors, values, subject matter, composition, style? I have figured out I am drawn to several different kinds of landscapes. I really like pastels. The rest, I am still studying.

Teresa said...

On the analyzing art thing... I used to just admire art until I read a post on Greywaren Art (Maggie Stiefvater) about "this stealing thing that I do" .... as she put it. I realized immediately what she meant. She was analyzing it deeply enough to find the soul of it and bring some of it into her work. Since then, all the pieces of art I see that I like receive intense scrutiny!

Jennifer Rose said...

simple answer. Lots of colour, and when it comes to wildlife art, art that features birds. So thats what I am trying to work into my art now. :)

Rose Welty said...

How great to hear everyone's thoughts!

Teresa, I so agree.

Jeanette, in terms of marketing, I'm sure you are right.

Miki, subject matter is a big question for me these days, in fact one of my biggest struggles.

Teresa, yes, Maggie has many pearls of wisdom. I can't say it with her style, but she's right.

Jennifer, subject matter - tricky for me, I'm waiting for mine to come along :D

Valerie Jones said...

I'm attracted to many pieces and never really take the time for scrutiny. This post will probably urge me to start studying a piece longer. I'm sure it will make my art become better with time. Thank you!

Beautiful ink drawing today!

Kari Gibson said...

This is a good reminder to help find out what moves one as an artist enough to want to capture it. I know I am drawn to still life, colour and interesting/quirky composition, artists such as Mattisse, Chardin and Morandi and work by the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists to name but a few.

Great post - very thought provoking!

Rose Welty said...

Valerie, thanks. I have found it a very useful exercise from time to time.

Kari, glad you enjoyed the post. Your work is stunning, I love your quirky compositions!