New abstract painting by Antonio Basso.
Some of my abstract art collectors and readers (to whom I dedicate this article) tell me they enjoy when I write about a new abstract painting explaining the whole creative process. This post shows you the process of one of my latest abstract paintings that belongs to the series Space Occupancies (find more info about the origen of this abstract series in the following article)
It all started when I saw the above picture in Pinterest. Its composition (which I inmediatelly visually abstracted), shades and crossing straight lines, its depht and equilibrated light…. Many details took my attention!
For some days I fast draw sketches trying to sinthesize the photo into an abstract compostion based on rectangles, squares and triangles that would overlap each other forming new angles (generally straight ones) and not letting see what was behind (which forces the observer (you) to intuit it). As Heraclitus of Ephesus said two mileniums ago “What is essential is invisible to the eye”.
Once I chose the right canvas measure, I started the composition. It´s a process that may take some days. It involves: choosing the right fabrics, cutting and pasting them, sewing them to the burlap surface; and pasting with white glue to reinforce it all.
When finished, I watched the composition for some time (sometime it´s days). This observation helps me stablish a dialogue with the work that eases the choosing of colors, brushes, and materials (marble powder and pipeclay in this case) I will end up using and incorporating. Above you can see the painting with the first blue acrylics layers already applied.
Antonio Basso. Space Occupancy # 18. Acrylic on burlap and fabrics. 130×190 cms
Through out the painting process, I normally take pictures that I carefully watch. The photos allow me to put some distance from the painting, which helps me decide on the following actions I will take. When I saw the above photo I decided that the painting needed some blue tone unification, more insistence on some corners to highlight them, more stuff, further depht, and more developement of the overlaping effect so that there would be a constant contrast between volume and flatness…..
Do you think artists have to explain their creative processes in order to help observers better undestand what they see? Please add your thoughts here.
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September 17, 2012 - 7:11 am
That’s quite an involved process. Most all of my teachers have tried to get me to go through a similar process. I’ve always wondered why, and getting no answer or inadequate answers, I just ignored them. I just start painting, and resolve my compositions as I go, visualizing each step in my head before executing each step. So my question to you would be… how do you find benefit in the process of preliminary sketching? I know very well that it’s a time honored process, but it’s always been a mystery to me. It may very well be that you can only answer that it’s how you’ve always worked. I would understand.
September 17, 2012 - 7:30 am
Hello Rosss, first of all thanks for commenting. Answering your question let me tell you that I do not sketch all of my final paintings. Some of them yes, and some no. Some need it and some do not. Just like this.
The main benefit I found by sketching Space Occupancy #18 was being able to analyce in more detail each part of the original photo I wanted to abstract. By sketchin it I had to look at it many times. This process helped me focus on the parts that really interested me.
Hope it helps.
By the way, my painting mentor always recomends me to draw (sketch) and keep doing so as much as I can. My personal experience is that it´s fun and helps going forward.
Antonio Basso
September 17, 2012 - 8:25 am
Thanks very much! It does help me understand.
September 17, 2012 - 8:28 am
You wellcome Ross.
Good luck and regards
Antonio
September 18, 2012 - 10:11 am
Buenas Antonio, creo que es muy interesante para el observador todo el proceso creativo de cualquier tipo de obra,desde el primer detalle al último, además creo que ayuda a mucha gente a profundizar con el arte. Podríamos hacer un símil con la música, hasta que no escuchas un tema varias veces no acabas de entenderlo,tienes que ir profundizando en lo que hace en cada momento cada instrumento.
Santi Kumenius
es.linkedin.com/in/santikumenius
September 18, 2012 - 10:19 am
Hola Santi, muy interesante tu comentario. De hecho yo pienso que la creación plástica (en este caso la pintura) y la musical tienen muchas similitudes. Del hetéreno (de un mundo desconocido) y sirviéndose de unas herramientas (instrumentos en caso del músico y utensilios varios por parte del pintor) los dos eligen, ordenan y materializan algo que antes no existía, e intentan conseguir la mejor armonía posible.
Gracias por compartir.
Abrazo.
Antonio
September 18, 2012 - 11:21 am
I loved seeing how you stitched pieces of fabric together and then worked on top of it to develop the image with layers of color and paint. I am a painter and had stitched cardboard to hardboard and painted on top. Thanks so much for showing us the process you used. I love surfaces and breakup of surfaces. Drawing is something I do all the time too. I love this!
September 18, 2012 - 11:28 am
Hello Sheryl, thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts and own experiences. Lots of luck with your work.
Antonio Basso
November 22, 2012 - 10:38 am
Abstract painting is really mind blowing but the way you are doing it is really mind blowing that how Geneously .you just add the two pieces of fabrics mind blowing
November 23, 2012 - 9:49 am
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Regards.
Antonio