past 2 weeks

method

Alberto Giacometti, 1962,  Portrait of Caroline

Alice Neel, Pregnant Woman, 1971

agnes martin and ideas

Agnes Martin, Stars, 1963, 12x12 inches, ink and watercolor.

Agnes Martin (1912-2004) was a very interesting artist, in that she spent her life mostly by herself. Her art, in itself, is interesting because it is known to primarily comprise of painted, printed, and drawn grids--very beautiful ones. In a longer version of the video above, Martin says something about experimentation that is frustrating and revealing. I paraphrasing her: "Art was never made by experimentation, as if it were a science." She firmly believes that art comes from inspiration, that art can not be spoken about, only felt, and that ideas could only hinder the process of making.

I think something of her beliefs are actually lost in language once she phrased them. For instance, as most of her body of work comprises grids, one can say her whole career in a way dealt with an experimentation with the grid form. Martin would fervently deny such a statement... and she would be right. The unavoidable problem is in using language/words to frame the art process. I think Martin was able to achieve an empty mind-- and in that emptiness those grids glided gracefully, finding a space to occupy with dignity and beauty. It wouldn't have been possible if she thought, "Now I must create as many forms of the grid as possible."

Also, Martin's work does comprise other images than grids...

Agnes Martin, "Untitled" (2004). 
Ink on paper. 3 1/2" × 2 3/4".

one out of many

I did another drawing marathon yesterday. This time I'm choosing to post only one image. This is again a very small drawing done in my sketchbook. I liked it because its mark making wasn't abrasive. I was able to get a dark line with paint and water, and the lines still contain in themselves the fluidity of their initial gesture.

Actually one of the main problems with the other drawings was that their pictures and post-production didn't turn out well. Also, perhaps their surfaces were overworked...

line drawings

Vera Molnar, Interruptions, 1968/69, open series, 28.5 x 28.5 cm

I saw some very lovely drawings at the online MOMA drawing exhibition called "On Line-Drawing Through the Twentieth Century". The exhibition is divided into Surface Tension, Line Extension, and Confluence of Line and Plane.Beautiful collection! The image above is a generative line drawing by one of the artists Vera Molnar (not the image showcased in the MOMA exhibition).

The simplicity and accessibility of a line, I find so comforting visually.

drawing dec 2010

Drawings arranged as a triptych, each is 5"x6.75"

I try to do little collages and drawings when i get time between writing. I wish I had more time to devote to making art. I'll be there soon.