Entry #4 - Creating meaning in art

 If you have read through most of these blog posts you may have realized I love the idea of artistic interpretations in all forms.  My favorite form of art is dance, however, I have dabbled around with all kinds of mediums! Sculpting, writing, acrylics, and even more! 

Creating meaning within art is hard for me though. When creating a new piece often times I will stop within the sketching process, not quite finishing but not quite incomplete either. Scraggly lines will fill the whole paper or even just small corners of the page are filed with people. Once I had(probably still have) an obsession with drawing and memorizing facial features, more specifically the nose.  Although there are plenty of examples of completed artworks of mine that do have a deeper meaning most of them were completed out of obligation for a grade, and maybe also because the supplies used for them were free. 

 

"Moving Forward"        (acrylic on canvas)         "Paramour"

Both images of paintings and paintings made by me

These are my last completed pieces, created back when I was still a senior in high school. The girl is part of a two-set piece, that canvas specifically is called "Paramour" (the other half of the set was named "Paramount"). The swirls in the background connected together in the corners, each color in the background represented the other set, this represents the feeling of longing and how two people despite being of different backgrounds(literally) can be connected through each other(their colors). The art with the male is called "Moving forward," it represents the feeling of hopelessness when loosing a loved one(whether it be rejection, death, or separation) and knowing that despite all that has happened we all have to move on eventually.  

Art with meaning has always been something I loved to learn about because I myself am not good at finding meaning underneath the obvious signs an artist has left. Under this paragraph is a painting by the name of 'Nighthawks' by Edward Hopper. When first looking at the painting people often just look at what is on the surface level there, three people sitting at an empty bar as the worker is busy. What could possibly be the hidden meaning? This painting is known for being (part of) the start of human existentialism, (which is essentially the beginning of questioning ones meaningless life). The streets are empty, not because its nighttime but because the people in the bar are supposed to be disconnected from the rest of the world. If i had never taken any art classes I would simply move on from a painting like this, one that at first glance doesn't have any hidden meaning or character.

"Nighthawks"

1942, Oil-on-canvas

By Edward Hopper

The average person only looks at art for about 10 seconds before moving onto the next piece, my biggest fear is looking at an art piece and not giving it any thought or the time of day. To practically ignore someones hard work simply because it wasn't engaging enough at first glance doesn't do art any justice, art is made to be looked at and to be observed. Might as well analyze it properly.