New paintings, hot off the easel, and some thoughts on art and life ...

    (originally posted April 16, 2010)

When we talk about art, we have to translate back and forth between two types of communication – visual and verbal – and things can get lost in the translation. 

With great art, language is cut out of the loop – the eyes see something overwhelming and the body simply reacts with a cry out loud, a sharp intake of breath.  I have always preferred that kind of painting – the ones that give an instant reaction, a punch in the gut so to speak.

When I start to describe a painting like that, I also want to tell you about my reaction to it, but verbal language can be inadequate for describing either the reaction or the art that caused it.  I can hope that you will understand, and I can urge you to go see for yourself, but that’s about the best I can do.

We take in and analyze purely visual cues much more than we think we do, as Malcolm Gladwell describes in his fascinating book “Blink”.  I recommend it – there are several stories that relate to art and visual communication.

I think art should be visual first.  Then, if it’s effective, it will be worth translating into the verbal, but that’s always a secondary way of knowing art.  Sometimes artists are asked what it is they are “trying to say” in a particular painting, and I am always put off by that question.  I’m not “trying to say” anything at all in my paintings – I would like my paintings to communicate visually.  If I wanted to say something, I would talk. 

But if art is effective visually, people will want to talk (and write) about it.  I’m doing it here, and maybe I’m being a hypocrite - blogging about art, making statements abut my paintings.  I can only say that we are a species that communicates verbally, so sometimes it’s necessary.

With my own work, I’m happiest when people react viscerally first.  If someone (usually another artist) looks at it and says “Nice use of negative space” or “Wonderful composition”, I’m flattered.  But if I watch someone taking their first look at my painting and their instantaneous reaction is a change of expression and a quick “Wow” or a happy “Oh!” then I’m overjoyed. 

That’s the reaction I’m aiming for.