Emotions and Painting
Growing up in rural Virginia in the 1960′s and early 1970′s, I had very little exposure to art, in general, and no exposure to abstract art of any kind. As a child, my elementary school teachers would give poor grades for coloring outside the lines or for “using inappropriate color”. I always wanted to change and challenge assignments I was given, however I also wanted to be a good student. What was a little kid to do? Being raised with the “never challenge authority” and “adults are always right” mindset, I learned to keep my conversations going inside my head rather than voice them and risk having my sensitivities beat up. So it wasn’t until I was taking an art appreciation course my freshman year at college was I ever introduced to any abstract art and then it was this genre called American Abstract Expressionism. I remember seeing a Jackson Pollack drip painting in a photograph and breaking down in tears. I remember this feeling of justification of my own instincts. I can still get teary thinking about that moment. Being as naive as I was, I also didn’t know art could make people cry.
in process sketchbook work
Why am I telling you this? Well, yesterday I came across this article on the Miller-McCune Research web site which talks about a recent study done in Rome with people visiting various types of museums. What they found is those who visit modern art museums are sensation seekers while those who visit the ancient art museums are looking for cultural enrichment. Both were interested in intellectual development and had an interest in arts and most of the museum goers were women, but the visitors to the modern art museum were on average 10 years younger than the age of the ancient art museum goers. This was a simple research, but one which will probably open avenues for further social, intellectual and cultural work. While I wasn’t surprised, I was happy to see this actually was taking place. So while I feel a great deal of emotion when I paint and when I view certain art, it is nice to know others also get that emotional feeling when they view art, even in public formats.
another sketchbook work in progress
Another emotional aspect of being an artist is having some special people say nice things about you from time to time. You are right, this is not the first time this has happened, but over the last two days I have had a couple of people say some kind things I wanted to share with you. Yesterday, Adam Reeder, said this to me (after he recommended a particular book on public art) on Facebook, “yeah you said it Kim, we need to be able to learn from everyone, and someone as talented as you could really run with info.” I have followed Adams work for sometime now and his sculptures are amazing and his drawings can sure make you pause. I am sure you will enjoy how he looks forwards and backwards with his art. Then, in this morning’s email there was a note I had been listed as a recommendation on Miranda Aschenbrenner’s blog, Learn To Art (scroll down as she has place a tutorial at the top). She said some lovely things there, too. I encourage you to visit Miranda as she has some lovely posts about realistic drawing.
So art is emotional on all sides for me. I wonder what research might find about the ‘state of mind’ of artists as they produce particular kinds of art? Do you ever fill with emotion as you paint? Have you ever collapsed on the floor in the middle of your studio? I am eager to hear of the emotional experiences you find in art both on the production and observation sides. My emotions bring the richness to my life. Do you find that is true for you? Are you an emotional museum goer or are you seeking cultural enrichment?
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There are 14 Comments to "Emotions and Painting"
Hi Kim! Great post! I am not an emotional painter at all. It’s hard to explain, but my art comes from a place in me that is logical, sequential, ordered. When I paint, it’s almost as if I go into a bit of a trance. I am so focused on my work that I don’t kow that I feel anything at all. The emotion comes after the fact, though, when I get that feeling of finally getting it right. I remember one piece I did got me so excited when I finally stepped back to look at it that I did a little dance in my living room! I called that piece “Living Room Boogie-Woogie!”
I love that you had such a good experience with your art course in college. Mine was somewhat different! Art in highschool was so easy for me, it wasn’t a challenge at all and my teacher didn’t go out of her way to challenge me further. I just cruised along completing assignments and getting A’s! When I got to University, it was a bit of a shock. I remember my contemporary theory course and being exposed to artists like the Chapman Brothers. There was awhile that I really didn’t understand art!
BTW, Abstract Expressionism is my favorite! It’s pretty much my major influence. I was at the Tate Modern this summer and saw a “Eve” by Barnett Newman. It’s not much to look at on the computer monitor, but in person, it was amazing. It’s so big that when you stand in front of it, it sucks you in, and that colour just vibrates!
Well, now that I’ve written a book here, I think I’ll go get ready for work. Have a good day, and thanks for the shout out!!
Kim, I checked the artists you indicated here, thanks so much for sharing the links. Love both their approaches, the way they play with light and shadow in their drawings, paintings and sculpture!
I feel myself nodding a lot while reading your post here, cause I’m definitely an emotional museumgoer! I think that, whle painting, I am not aware of my emotions, they somehow flow directly into what I’m doing, paint or draw or experiment something. Often it’s quite “physical”, as I paint standing at my work table. So I guess I’m often hot while painting (:) and sometimes need to force myself to go away and have a coffee or some water and sit down a second to get back with a fresh mind. While I’m not looking at my emotions while painting, I can see them afterwards, often this takes quite a long time.
When I look at paintings in museums or exhibition, then there can be also different emotions, like being completely drawn into a work immediately, moved right there. Or else, the painting/work sort of pursuits me, cooly, and doesn’t let me go, so that I still see it in my mind for a long while afterwards… I’m not so good at figuring this all out, how it works etc. But thanks so much for talking about this and challenging your readers to go to the bottom of what they feel!
Oh and, with regards to abstract expressionism, I sometimes look at ancient figurative paintings as if I stood in front of a modern abstract work, just looking at the shapes and the lights. This makes it a lot more interesting and emotional, too!
Have a great weekend!
Thank you both for such thoughtful comments. I am really jazzed to hear what you have to say.
Miranda, you can write books here any time you want! You know, I think when I paint, I too, am in a place which is like being outside of myself. I know my work comes from a great deal of emotion, but while I am creating I don’t recognize it. When I step back, the emotions really come. I love your title of “Living Room Boogie Woogie” which was a true emotional expression of your work. It makes so much sense to me. Well, maybe it was because I did not take art in high school my experience in college was so profound. Being from a very practical area, art was not encouraged and often discouraged. I love the Tate Modern and visited there several times when we lived in England. It is fabulous. I find most AE is like that as far as not showing well in image, but when you see it in person it seems to want to make you a part of itself. I know just what you mean.
Andrea, I can just imagine you there nodding your head as you read the post. I am glad it made sense to you. I am also glad you enjoyed the artists I mentioned here. They are pretty awesome, truly. Miranda, who posted just before you, is the one who does the amazing tutorials. Oh, how I understand that “heat” while you paint. I think the emotions are there, but maybe we are kind of unaware of the. Because we are the ones who are actually doing the work, once we stand back, then we can recognize the emotions which were influencing the painting/drawing/experiment, etc. When you talk about your work, I can see this is kind of how it happens for you. I am thinking of Fuzzy Tuesday, most recently. You seemed to know instinctively what was happening with that particular painting. Yes, I understand what you mean about the painting following you and tapping on your shoulder to draw you back so it can hold on to you longer. Oh, I think you are really good at figuring this all out. It maybe a lot more difficult for you to explain it in English, but I think you get it perfectly. Sometimes, it is just a matter of being able to find the words to express just what it is that is happening. The feelings are there, so honoring them means you bring your work full circle. At least that is the way I kind of have to think through it all. I love this idea of looking at ancient works as abstracts! You are brilliant – of course that is the greatest way to experience these pieces. Like looking at negative shapes in a way. I think you have just opened up a whole new world for me!
Thank you, my friends!
Dear Kim,
I so enjoyed reading this posting! As usual, you really make me think. I am definitely an emotional painter and viewer. I love to see art in museums that move me at a visceral level. I am still developing challenging my emotions into my painting and sometimes I get lost and bewildered. I am slowly learning to accept this is part of the process and not get too upset when it happens and just keep working. I don’t think I consciously paint portraying my emotions, they just happen to come along when I am playing with my paint. I recently watched a short video of Jackson Pollack on Utube and also wanted to cry with recognition and empathy. I saved the clip and keep returning to watch him paint.
Thanks Kim!
I’m going to stay tuned in more often!
Thanks Dianne and Chrissandra!
Dianne, I completely agree with you about getting lost and bewildered some of the time as being a part of the process. One thing I have found is when this happens I have to ask myself what else is going on in my life and what is it I am trying to tell myself. At least for me, allowing my intuition the freedom to speak often happens in a painting. Of course, then I have to recognize it in order to give it value. Oh, how I do understand. I am going to have to look for that clip on YouTube! It sounds great. Oh to have had even film to watch when I was in college would have made a huge difference. I am glad the post resonated with you, Dianne! Thanks so much for sharing here.
Chrissandra, I am glad. Let us know how it works out! Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me know, too!
Have a Wonderful Weekend!
Kim, I’m an emotional museum goer. And my painting is informed by intuition and concept. When it goes well, both inform each other. And flow into one another. When they fight each other, the painting bogs down. And I feel exhausted. Emotionally exhausted.
Congratulations on your accolades from such fine sources, Kim! You always inspire.
Ah San, again you make a good point – no matter what, the experience is emotional for you either positive or negative! I so get that exhaustion! It seems to me emotional exhaustion is much worse than physical exhaustion. I wonder if that has to do with the type of person you are?
Thanks you, San!
Kim… love the post and when i was reading i felt like crying.. because i was thinking about the painting that i saw sumwhere and I looked at it and try to understand what message painter is suppose to tell us in the painting.. when i finally got it .. it was so touchy and couldnt stop crying.. Emtions and painting are connected to each other a lot
Oh Sabi, I sure did not mean to create tears with this post, although you are so sweet to share your sensitivity to what I had to say. You are right, when you view the right painting – when there is some unexplained connection between you and the artist or you and the painting – you can’t help but fill with emotion. I am glad you have been able to experience this outpouring of emotion when standing in front of a wonderful piece of art.
Thanks Sabi!
a side note. Finally I “get” it. I put in your URL with the /blog and now I think I will get the updates in my blogroll thing. Duh.
I love both modern art museums and antiquities. I find stimulation in both though havent been to much of any museum in a long while. When I lived near the Nelson in Kansas City I went every week.
I think I work out my emotions by painting etc, but dont usually feel emotional while I am painting etc. Also generally dont feel emotional when viewing others artwork in any big way but most likely do in subtle ways. I am more likely to be brought to tears by a movie or a book. Ditto laughter.
interesting discussion and will check out the article.
Hi Suki,
I know it is brutal to get some of these things figured out. I am still having trouble posting on blogger without signing into my google account (which I don’t mind), so it usually takes time to get it all worked out.
I can sure imagine how you would find those emotions in the words. I can say I feel that way about books sometimes, too. I usually don’t gfind myself moved to tears, but can find a lot of emotion in a good read. Movies will take me down that tear jearking road, too. One emotion I normally do not feel with art forms is anger. I just thought of that. I can’t recall a time when a book or painting or movie angered me.
I hope you like the article, Suki! I am glad you will be reminded to head over for a visit from time to time.
Dear Kim
I read your post with interest; I also did not grow up in an artist environment, in fact the opposite was true. I was a very shy child with a low self esteem.
I started painting a few years ago after my husband died. I just dived straight in and really couldn’t give a hoot whether people like my art or not.
Of course its always nice to have compliments but as for “correctness”, forget it.
Hello Linda! It is lovely to see you here and thank you for this comment. You know, it seem to me getting to this place with art is what really makes it work well. Creating for yourself allows you to put your heart and soul into the pieces. When I am in the studio, all of that “correctness” falls away and if by some chance it doesn’t everything suffers and that isn’t worth it, is it?
Thanks again, Linda. Have a Wonderful Day!