There is Art and then there is Art

FINAL "Egrets and Mangroves" 14 x 18 acrylic on canvas; original in barn wood frame

Because the appreciation of art is subjective and personal, it is difficult to define what is and what isn’t. There are standards and elements that may be judged in one way or another; but here again, the perspective of the judge is also a personal opinion call.

I admire people who experiment and risk all in their creative journey. Sometimes you don’t know what will work unless you give it a try. In art and fashion I hate the claim that “One size fits all.” They never do! That one size may drown a small person or embarrass those who are too large.

Painting styles and techniques are never the same either. New artists may copy their teacher or the masters until they discover what works best for them. But you never will if you don't explore on your own the possibilities.

One such experimenter was Charley Harper, Illustrator. Some of his bird artwork was presented on Antiques Roadshow in Iowa a few weeks ago. The owner was amazed that at auction the suggested going price was between $12,000 to $24,000 each. 

According to the Roadshow expert, Harper’s work is a “hot” item. His style blends in well with today’s contemporary straight lines and patterns. On Charley’s professional web site we learn that:

“Charley Harper's unique minimalist approach is unmistakable. From his groundbreaking mid-century illustrations for Ford Times Magazine and Golden Books and his impeccably composed posters for the National Parks and other wildlife organizations, to his whimsical serigraph and giclée prints, Charley Harper's art is a beloved treasure and an inspiration to an entire generation of artists and designers.”

In a style Harper called "minimal realism", Charley Harper captures the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. When asked to describe his unique visual style, Charley responded:

"When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don't see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures.

"I regard the picture as an ecosystem in which all the elements are interrelated, interdependent, perfectly balanced, without trimming or unutilized parts; and herein lays the lure of the painting; in a world of chaos, the picture is one small rectangle in which the artist can create an ordered universe."

He contrasted his nature-oriented artwork with the realism of John James Audubon, drawing influence from Cubism, Minimalism, Einsteinium physics and countless other developments in Modern art and science. His style distilled and simplified complex organisms and natural subjects, yet they are often arranged in a complex fashion. On the subject of his simplified forms, Harper noted:

"I don't think there was much resistance to the way I simplified things. I think everybody understood that. Some people liked it and others didn't care for it. There's some who want to count all the feathers in the wings and then others who never think about counting the feathers, like me."

The results are bold, colorful, and often whimsical. The designer Todd Oldham wrote of Harper, "Charley's inspired yet accurate color sense is undeniable, and when combined with the precision he exacts on rendering only the most important details, one is always left with a sense of awe."

https://charleyharperartstudio.com/

Charley, on numerous examples, also went outside the medium of graphic art and included short prose poems for the artwork he made. We can learn so much from Harper's life and illustrations. Whatever you decide to do as you develop your artistic style, enjoy it and love what you do!  (I decided to add my tiger painting below as it's a similar composition as Charley's but in a far different style)

"Namesake" 24 x 18 acrylic on canvas

There’s “Nothing new Under the Sun”

"Reggae Night" Acrylic on 18 x 24 canvas (Won Special Recognition, see below)

I was watching a PBS fundraiser featuring music from the Eighties.  All of the colors and geometric patterns of today were alive and well. No matter how advanced and contemporary we believe we are, as the ancient Biblical prophets said in Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV):

⁹ What has been will be again,
    what has been done will be done again;
    there is nothing new under the sun.

In most cases, everything has all been said and done before. Our challenge as creators and artists is to take the ideas from the past and remake them into something fresh and exciting. Even contemporary science and technology has its basis in history. Researchers and engineers always build upon the foundation of knowledge and facts established before them.

These molecular building blocks join the past to the present and create promise for the future. You can use these same principles in creating something different and forward thinking from what has worked before. They used to call it “thinking outside the box.” Now they are suggesting we get outside and look within at the interior and find different ways to relate, to see, to think.

(Work-in-Progress "Egrets and Mangroves)

Your own personal perspective generates the diversity and originality of thought that gives you an edge over those who came before you. Your unique skills and experiences shape how you express yourself and define your style. Whether you look within or explore exterior planes, there may be something vital and cutting edge in what you discover.

Being alert to opportunities and emerging trends gives you a head start. There are openings almost everywhere you look. Social media advertises jobs, creative connections and links that may lead to something promising; but along with those ads come risks.

I’ve received an abundance of spam and damaging email links over the past few months; most touting opportunities for jobs or products promising success. Even my medical records were tapped. The up-to-date ways physicians now communicate with patients are being used for profit. I was shocked that my email had been sold to other health advertisers and that the medical portals I once considered sacrosanct were up for grabs.

"Great Egret" 11 x 17 watercolor

Put your own name in a search bar and see how many times it comes up in places you never knew existed. Everywhere you post, comment, and “Like” links back to you. Be alert to scams, dead-end postings and emails. If you have any doubts at all, don’t click on them. They may transfer you to a site where you will be spammed or worse. 

My blog was shut down for several weeks last year from a code I picked up by clicking on one of those links. It took me weeks to track down where the code was embedded on my system. My LinkedIn friends gave me the necessary information to find it and shut it down.

In spite of that there are legitimate sites you can trust and several online contests which prove beneficial. One such place is located at this link:   http://www.art-competition.net/ where I am entered in their March 2016 competition for “Faces.”

I won an “Honorable Mention” for my painting “Reggae Night” shown above, and several weeks of Special Recognition along with other winners at this site: https://www.lightspacetime.com/ Give it a go!

Here are some other verified and authentic contest sites you may want to try:

http://www.theartlist.com/    http://www.asingularcreation.com/calls-to-artists.php http://www.myartcontest.com/  

"Beach Buddies" Oil on 20 x 16 canvas. . .popular with many buyers.