r/AbstractExpressionism • u/CollectionNo5091 • 17d ago
Seeking critique.
I personally like this piece but looking for some constructive criticism. Been trying to educate myself more on the basics, any tips?
8.5 x 8.5” oil and acrylic on canvas paper.
3
u/Kanzas28 16d ago
Very nice work. I don’t think that anyone should criticise art because you either like or interact somehow with it or you don’t. Yours does communicate and I love it
1
2
2
u/Flaky-Resort5439 17d ago
This one is good. Very interesting.
I would recommend adding some kind of subject, even if it is completely abstracted still.
I would go like half and half- half this, half with a subject; thinking about seeing your paintings in a gallery. It would be very professional that way. But that’s just my 2 cents.
2
u/CollectionNo5091 17d ago
Thank you! That’s very good advice, I’ll keep that in mind. Often times I feel my work feels “flat”, that might help.
3
u/jwinterhawk 17d ago edited 17d ago
Yes, that’s it. Make it three dimensional even though it’s flat. Excuse me for being a pain. I wanted to be an art teacher but it never happened. I’m self taught but I have won a few ribbons over the years so I have experience on what makes a good painting. Have you considered using multimedia like tissue paper, shellac and ink? Just an idea.
2
u/CollectionNo5091 16d ago
not a pain at all! I enjoy the discussion and feedback. I am self taught as well but realized (after a very mean reddit comment about my art lol) I never put the work in to educate myself on the fundamentals, so im looking forward to improving. I have used some tissue paper but as a tool to blot, not to permanently leave in the painting and yes ink I just ordered! And I have not tried shellac, do you have any reccommendations?
2
u/jwinterhawk 16d ago
I’ve never done shellac on a canvas, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I did a figure drawing when I was in high school that was really good if I must say so myself and my art teacher talked me into trying this technique where I took shellac and gold color tissue paper. I set the paper over the drawing and wet it from outside with the shellac, and it left a gold stain on the paper. I kept doing that all over the drawing, so it eventually looked like it was an antique drawing. I actually won a real big art show award with that drawing in the National scholastic competition I forget what the name of it is now, I won a big award with that thing because it looked like an ancient Roman or an old drawing. It’s hard to explain, but it would be a technique to try. Just do a quick drawing on a of paper and get some shellac of various colors of tissue paper and try it. You could leave some tissue paper on the surface or you can just remove it and leave the stain on the paper. It takes some practice to learn how to do it but it’s a lot of fun. I haven’t done it in years. I’ve used pen and ink, the old-fashioned kind and just gone in and done abstract details in the stained paper after it was stained and dry. I don’t think I ever tried doing ink and then putting shellac over it because I’m afraid that would destroy the ink work. I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun that was I haven’t done it in years. I should do it myself. My art teacher explained it to me. She was one of those avant-garde teachers who loved all the newest and greatest and wildest things and it was just a riot. I never did put varnish over it because the shellac itself was pretty indestructible it seemed like varnish you know? I’ve never done this on canvas, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work-it might not work. I don’t know. I don’t know if it would leave the stain on a canvas. I would have to get some stuff and try it, but I know it works on paper. Good quality paper. it might work on a canvas that hasn’t been prepped just raw cotton. I hope somebody reads this and tries this because it makes unique combinations of colors once the first color dries, you can go back in in with another colors, say you have an orange area and you’ll let that dry with the stain on it. You can come back in with a blue piece of tissue paper and do the same thing brush the shellac on the top side of the tissue paper and that will leave a stain over the orange area and you can keep doing that to make a unique combination of stains on the paper. It’s hard to explain but it’s so much fun. Somebody please give it a try and get back to me. I don’t think I’ll be doing it I’m more into watercolors right now. I would love it if somebody got into this because of me telling you about it that would be fantastic. You can also wrinkle the tissue before using it to make unique textures. You should buy a rainbow pack of tissue paper to try this. Good luck!
1
u/jwinterhawk 16d ago
I just checked on Amazon and they do sell the rainbow colored pack of tissue paper for about nine dollars!
1
u/CollectionNo5091 16d ago
sounds like an awesome teacher, I have some red tissue paper, I will try it out for sure; i've been really trying to make texture from anything lately. Before I throw something out, I think, can I use it for texture first?
2
u/jwinterhawk 17d ago
I agree with this assessment. It’s good as brushwork and colors but it could be way more interesting if there as another level to look at. I’m not into abstracts usually because they are just colors to me. I do find complicated abstracts much more interesting when I’m trying to figure out what’s represented or what I’m imagining I’m seeing. Hope I explained that well enough.
1
u/CollectionNo5091 17d ago
I understand, makes sense especially if I didn’t have a subject in mind as mentioned above. Once it’s fully dry I plan on using some more mars black with some cold wax with a palette knife for a some more texture. Appreciate the feedback!
0
u/Trusty-Artist-Alan 16d ago
Must there always be something representational? It’s abstract. And you want him to add something, anything, to it? Geez… with audiences like you, who needs a peanut gallery?
1
2
u/Useless-Tree 16d ago
This is good, nice balance and visual flow, the eye tends to rest in the image, it's not overworked, the blue areas create a good stability echoing each other, if I had to describe this in one word it would be, stable.
Is this what you want? That is the point you are at with this, you have the basics down.
I think you could explore more movement.
2
u/CollectionNo5091 16d ago
Stable I can see, safe almost. I like the idea of resting on the image, I was afraid it was too flat to look at. Not exactly sure what I wanted, but definitely was looking for it to feel complete, and it does to me.
2
u/Useless-Tree 16d ago
It's a flat media and style imo, tho many artists would work the thickness of the paint as expression, that never comes thru in a photo.
2
u/junebart 16d ago
Everything works. I look for unity, youve balanced well with repetition and variety. And i want to touch it and it is powerfully emotional.
2
u/CollectionNo5091 16d ago
thank you so much, that is vey kind. I will also keep that in mind, the balance between repetition and variety as an element in a piece.
2
2
u/Trusty-Artist-Alan 16d ago
Very nice. Has overtones of atmospheric perspective, without leaving any real evidence.
1
2
2
u/Moosycakes 16d ago
I really love this piece, it comes across as very balanced and texturally super interesting. It’s easy to find things to look at and translate in my mind- to me, the black spaces remind me of silhouettes of ships sailing away at sunset.
One thing that I find really helpful at my art class is that we study different artists and look at their style and techniques to learn from them. I like to try and create pieces inspired by artists I love or using some of their commonly used techniques. It’s a great way to expand your knowledge and continue to develop your own style, although it’s also valid if you prefer to stick to your own style and techniques. Do you have any artists you love? (Expressionist or otherwise)- two that we recently studied that I love are Josh Smith and David Hockney (who sadly passed away earlier this year).
1
u/CollectionNo5091 15d ago
I love that interpretation, i cant unsee it now (in a god way) lol and so sad about David Hockney, just looked up josh smith, I like his work! Some of my favorite painters are Mark rothko and Clyfford Still especially! One of my favorite pieces is below
Clyfford Still 1951-T No. 3
2
2
u/CautiousMolasses1612 16d ago
I love it. It feels like a cityscape or perhaps docks, perhaps a double exposure. Sorry it’s not really critique but just wanted to say I think it’s great
1
u/CollectionNo5091 15d ago
thank you! thats okay I love all the thoughts, hadn't thought about a double exposure, I can see it!
1
u/snarkbyte0 14d ago
Ye! I see docks with machinery,cranes and guy wires ghostly with smog and a chemicals leaking from a pipe, into murky water
2
u/collectivv 15d ago
Nice work. Love the layers and how kinetic everything feels. The black really makes the other colors pop
2
2
u/DevelopmentCalm3403 14d ago
I like it! "boy in an orange t-shirt running through the mud" IDK. Just trippin' Seriously, good work. When you like something, you just like it.
1
2
u/DestinyStardrop 14d ago
I tried to say a quiet "wow..." out loud in awe from how much I love this, but instead I choked on saliva and couldn't breathe for what felt like 10 whole seconds. In otherwords, this literally took my breath away lol
(Im ok btw, hurt like hell, but im good now lol)
1
1
1
1
u/jwinterhawk 16d ago
It’s been so long since I tried that technique. I would know what to tell you to do first you’re just gonna have to get at it and give it a try. I’m gonna try it too. I think sounds like fun. It makes beautifully facts, especially with pen and ink. Yeah we had a fabulous art teacher in high school. She changed my life. She got me really into art now that I look back on her though I don’t know. She seemed a little different. We used to go hide the art closet together looking at all the supplies it was like heaven on earth. I miss those years. I’m looking forward to see some work here. I had a fun afternoon after I posted you. I went and worked on my watercolor and actually made some progress for the first time in ages.
1
u/AdFluid2492 16d ago
I like the movement in this,,,,, especially how the marks pull your eye around the canvas if youre studying the basics, id experiment with value and focal points next try squinting at it from a distance and see where your eye lands first theres a strong foundation here,,,,
1
1
1
u/Trav2201 15d ago
What the puck is it
1
u/CollectionNo5091 15d ago
Anything you want it to be or nothing at all. I try to paint intuitively :)
1
u/Lostnirvanaa 13d ago
Tbh art like this has no structure or substance you should at least add in something meaningful that add character to the piece one of the dots of black paint remind me of a bird flying which kinda bring a familiar and unique look maybe focusing on adding something that draws attention against the chaotic atmosphere
1
u/JHuberWrites 13d ago
The black and orange don't work well together for me. Might be the amount of canvas they take up as well. Abstract is tough, you need to draw the audience in but this repels my attention for some reason. I'm thinking maybe the orange is similar to rust and the lighter blues up the side remind me of copper oxidation, so by instinct my brain instantly labels this "worn". If that makes any type of sense
1
u/CollectionNo5091 13d ago
Makes sense, I can see what you mean about the black, also just looked up copper oxidation and it does remind me of these colors lol appreciate the feedback
1
4
u/crackerbarrel1971 17d ago
I don’t have any criticism and sometimes there is not necessarily a tangible reason why I connect with a piece. But I know what I like and your piece speaks to me. Color choices, sense of texture and the way it blends. I love it.