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An Abstract Painter's Blog

Saturday January 6, 2007

 Should you have a "look" as a painter?
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I'm wondering, after 30 years of painting, and I already know the answer, but humor me here..... is it really necessary to have a "look"? You know what I mean, that standardized, stylized, "look" that everyone knows is yours. I just got the new Getty calendar and on the cover is a detail of a painting, a reproduction. I looked at it and mumbled "Gerhard Richter" to myself... opened it up and of course it was a painting by Gerhard Richter. Now how did I know that from a detail on the cover? Because it has his look. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Well if I have to have a look, I'm in serious trouble. I'm too busy exploring things, ruminating on nonsense and finding out what color it is. My current obsession? Squares, circles and triangles. Hey, I'm a simple girl.
Posted by Tesia Blackburn at 10:09 PM - 6 Comments   Add a Comment  
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Perhaps "the look" occurs over time based on a persons individual style of painting. Mind you, I am not a painter, but I liken it to someones handwriting. Each person has their own style. It occurs naturally. And, as in the case of the painter you mentioned, you were able to detect it.  
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by Donna (PM , CC ) on Saturday January 6, 2007 @ 10:37 PM
I was just told recently that if they saw my painting in a gallery they would know it was mine. Perhaps you are too close to what you are doing and don't see it. It's interesting how when looking at our own work how hard it is to really stand back from it.
I would love to see some of your work but I don't see a gallery with your blog 		 
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by Passion For Art (PM , CC ) on Monday January 8, 2007 @ 4:14 PM
That's good news! To have someone recognize your "hand" in your work must be very satisfying. I tell my students to try to develop their mark, their own vocabulary. But I must confess I tend to go off on tangents, enthralled by some sparkly thing over yonder....

to see my work go to www.BlackburnFineArt.com 		 
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by TesiaB (PM , CC ) on Monday January 8, 2007 @ 11:50 PM
Hello. I believe that one developes a'look' in their art over time-the choice of colors in the work, a subject matter that you go back to time and again-it's like an extension of your personality. I guess it comes down to the choices you make over time ,whatever medium you work in. Can you force a 'look'? I don't know. Let me know what you think  
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by Joel (PM , CC ) on Tuesday January 9, 2007 @ 11:19 PM
I don't think we can force a look, a style. That is, if we are being true to ourselves as artists. However, I do know that sometimes the pressures of the marketplace intrude into my little ivory tower and I think to myself, "that piece I sold that 3 people wanted, couldn't I just pop a couple more of those out?" Of course the answer is no. I may, and do, revisit the motif, mostly because I tend to work in series, but recreating a best seller? Not likely in my studio, not intentionally anyway,...sigh.... back to the peanut butter sandwiches I guess  
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by TesiaB (PM , CC ) on Wednesday January 10, 2007 @ 12:28 PM
A 'look' can be ok, interesting. However I don't think it necessary that each artist have a 'look.' I, too, like to experiment and while some of my pieces have a recognizable touch, others can be quite different. Perhaps an outsider would see a 'look' overall, I don't know.

It concerns me when galleries, juries etc say they want to see consistency of style and subject. ??!? Sounds limiting to me, especially the 'subject' part. I don't believe that is an appropriate measure for whether to let art through the door.

When you have seen these terms used, what did they mean? For what purpose were they being applied? 		 
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by EmH (PM , CC ) on Wednesday June 11, 2008 @ 8:03 PM


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