4 abstract painters, so what do I do here?
The following is a guest post about modern and contemporary abstract painters written by my friend, art couch and better painter, Xavier Ribas.
When Antonio proposed me to write about abstract art commitment while using as example the work of four abstract painters, I accepted the invitation without hesitation, but then I realized that I was a figurative painter, and although I have always shown a fondness for American abstract painters such as Mark Rothko, and more recently Cy Twombly, the fact is that figurative painting has always been a speech in which I feel more comfortable to develop my artistic approaches.
Unlike figurative painters (we hold our discourse with more or less recognizable referents), the abstract painter has to hold his speech with a strong conviction based conceptual analysis and experimentation.
Abstract painters take a step beyond the reality we all know, and extracting from it the parent lines, they develope their own language to explain (even to themselfs) this reality of all. Coherence of discourse has to flow in the artworks to get a credible reading.
Allow me to use the example of Mondrian (the top painting is his “Grey Tree”). A painter who, based on his study of nature, began a process of synthesis to find the tension in the vertical and horizontal lines that were arranged in a tree and landscape horizon.
Piet Mondrian
Considered one of the most important and influencial abstract art artist in history, Mondrian art has influenced many XXth and XXIst century artists. Enjoy the reading of his spectacular Catalogue Raisonné by clicking the image below.
Mondrian´s Catalogue Raisonné
In my student days, l was very interested by Joaquim Chancho’s work, whom I had the opportunity to hear his comments during the talks that were held in classrooms. He represents a clear example of abstract painter committed to his work and reality.
One aspect that I find of most importance in art, even more than performance technique or plastic beauty, is honesty and commitment of theauthor to his work. These are the terms that support the consistency that allows a work (or dialogue) to sustain over time. I think this is especially important when creating abstract art because the gestures can easily dominate the discourse and make it a purely decorative product.
Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko has always been one of my favorite abstract painters and remains a landmark in the development of some concepts of my figurative work, especially for control of space and the role of uncertainty. If I have to recommend you a book with his colorful art, I undoubtelly choose the one below. (click the image for more info).
Rothko works on canvas
Cy Twombly
Cy Twombly was a painter I recently discovered. Another top influencial and distintc modern artists, he captivated me for his color usage, compositions and gesture. I am interested in how he adds his thoughts in written words, and how these words are diluted in the painting. It gives me the feeling of works in progress or areas where he records what he is thinking. The superior high quality Twombly´s book would be my recommendation in this case. Click the image to get more info.
Cy Twombly´s Art.
At the end of my walk through these four fantastic abstract artists, I have been surprised by the fact that I´ve chosen photos with their works behind them. It seems that my unconscious was warning me of something: I am a figurative painter !
Xavier Ribas
Thanks a lot for your interesting article, Xavier. Its reading makes me improve a little bit more. What about you?. How would you define committed abstract art? Feel free to add your thoughts below.
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December 4, 2012 - 12:20 pm
[…] went by the painting started to loose power. The more I looked at it the least I liked it, hence following my artist committment I decided to destroy it. What was a Tie collection abstract […]
January 3, 2013 - 2:07 pm
[…] The superior abstract paintings you are about to see can be classified in many different ways: some are geometrical abstract art expressions while others are more lyrical; some are big paintings while others are small ones; some are powerful art expressions with the minimum intervention of the artist while others are just the opposite, maximum expression with total abstract artist intervention; some came straight from the artist´s unconscious and seem to be more visceral and impulsive, while others follow a more rational intervention; some have been painted with oils, others with acrylics, and there is another group where the artist used nontraditional painting materials; some are straight line based while others are circular; some where made applying delicate brush strokes while others are more expressionist like creations; in some of them the painting surface was not entirely covered while in others it was almost or totally. As you can see, the pictorial possibilities are infinite, but at the end it is not that easy to create a valuable abstract piece (click here for a better understanding of what a committed abstract artist is) […]
February 4, 2013 - 12:45 am
[…] above is an interesting and apparently spontaneous Cy Tomwbly´s abstract painting. (read also this article about his art committment) It again shows us the spectacular emotional power that a well combined artwork can have. You see […]
February 7, 2013 - 4:41 pm
comittment is everything
February 7, 2013 - 4:59 pm
Totally agree wiht you Lyle. Thanks for joining. Take care.
Antonio Basso
February 10, 2013 - 11:59 pm
[…] loose power. The more I looked at it the least I liked it, hence following my artist committment (click to see an article talking about 4 committed abstract artists), I decided to destroy […]
February 11, 2013 - 1:09 am
[…] Pace Gallery a leading contemporary art gallery is exhibiting Mark Rothko paintings and Hiroshi Sugimoto´s seascapes. The abstract paintings and landscape photographies exhibited are […]
February 11, 2013 - 1:21 am
[…] from the Post-War period, including works from Diebenkorn, Rothko, Motherwell, Joan Mitchell and Cy Twombly just to name a […]
February 18, 2013 - 1:28 am
[…] Below you see Cy Twombly´s studio. When this picture was taken, I guess he was working in his abstract roses series. Probably some of this magnificent, colorful and fresh contemporary abstract paintings where exibited at his famous Gagosian gallery exhibition. Check also this article where figurative painter Xavier Ribas explains why he considers Twombly a committed artist. […]
February 18, 2013 - 10:41 am
[…] The superior abstract paintings you are about to see can be classified in many different ways: some are geometrical abstract art expressions while others are more lyrical; some are big paintings while others are small ones; some are powerful art expressions with the minimum intervention of the artist while others are just the opposite, maximum expression with total abstract artist intervention; some came straight from the artist´s unconscious and seem to be more visceral and impulsive, while others follow a more rational intervention; some have been painted with oils, others with acrylics, and there is another group where the artist used nontraditional painting materials; some are straight line based while others are circular; some where made applying delicate brush strokes while others are more expressionist like creations; in some of them the painting surface was not entirely covered while in others it was almost or totally. As you can see, the pictorial possibilities are infinite, but at the end it is not that easy to create a valuable abstract piece (click here for a better understanding of what a committed abstract artist is) […]
February 26, 2013 - 10:28 am
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