A simpler art practice
Removing all chases and the most important thing, the enjoyment of creating art.
We all have a favourite colour.
As children, we seem to be drawn to a particular colour and this usually sticks with us as an adult.
Blue was my colour of choice. I have a fond memory of Dad asking me which colour removal van we should get, “Red or Blue?” it was an easy choice, Red made no sense, it had to be blue. I was 4 years old at the time and we were moving from South-East London to the Wiltshire Countryside for a quieter life after my grandparents died.
Then at the age of 11, I started playing basketball, at a suggestion of a friend. I was drawn to the orange and blue of the New York Knicks and adopted them as my NBA team.
I even had executed the idea of writing to the New York Knicks office and explaining that they should trade Knicks Power Forward Anthony Mason for Larry Johnson, who was at Charlotte Hornets at the time. I never got a reply but the trade happened! Coincidence? Did they listen to a British kid’s advice? Did I have some magical insight into how the game worked behind the scenes? Who knows? But it happened!
It wasn’t until 2021, a couple of years after I picked up my art again, that I learned Orange and Blue were complimentary colours. Red, Blue and Yellow are primary colours, so if you put the Blue aside and you add the Red and Yellow, you get the Orange that compliments the Blue! I found it fascinating. It also made me think about the LA Laker’s kit colours, Yellow and Purple, which are also complimentary.
Taking it one step further, if you add the blue and orange together you get brown, which works so well with orange and blue. Just look at this piece from Francis Bacon. Stunning colour combinations, with a lovely pink and red colour pop.
I know Bacon isn’t classed as so, but I’ve always admired abstract artists. The freedom they have, the courage it often takes. You’re safe painting realist art as people know what you are painting in most cases.
Rothko wholeheartedly gave himself to his art, it was his life. I never understood his work before, and maybe I still don’t, but last year I found myself getting lost in the Rothko room at Tate Britain.
My new step into the unknown is in the form of creating abstract art pieces using predominately orange and blue, with accents of brown, white and black if it fits. I love the human form so these elements will continue to be sprinkled throughout my work moving forward.
A simpler art practice for me also involves a halt to chasing any kind of recognition in the form of competitions, vanity art exhibitions/art fairs, social media sharing and the need for my work to be liked. Going back to my art is the place that gives me solace, so most of my precious time will be spent there (If you’re an artist, I’m sure you’ll agree). I’ll be sharing this journey here too.
Blessings,
SLART
Yes, light green with pink is lovely. It evokes a certain vibe for sure. That’s the thing about being a visual artist, y’all can bring on an instant with color that seems harder to do with words. Musicians are the same.
I laughed when you, at 4, said 'red makes no sense'🤣 This post made me ponder. It's interesting the innate preference for color, I'm sure the psychologists know a lot about that. I find I don't often like the color green in art. That's so weird! Why wouldn't I like green? I don't know but there you have it.