Expressing Emotion

Tricia Migdoll · 10-12-2005, 05:55 AM

Hi Kim, I find this a very important & sensitive subject.

This is a beautiful painting & well titled. I love this kind of drama.

What is art if we shy away from the emotion of it all.!?
Fake, I would say. ... meaningless.

good thread.

( what other forum ? - PM me ?)

Julie Deane · 10-12-2005, 10:05 AM

I like the topic and haven't seen it on the other forum. I agree with Tricia - what is art, to shy away from emotion? Certainly, an artist needs to generate sales to be in business, but that's not what it's all about. If it was, the world would be without "The Scream" by Munch, or much of Goya's work.

Kimberly Dow · 10-12-2005, 08:32 PM

www.forumsalon.com

is the address I think - for the Online Artists Guild

Mary Sparrow · 10-14-2005, 09:22 AM

Kim thank you for showing her work, I just checked out her site. Amazing and interesting!

Michele Rushworth · 10-14-2005, 10:53 AM

Thanks for posting her work -- it is really terrific, isn't it? (I only wish decent art education had been available when I was her age....!)

As far as expressing emotion in your work, pleasant or otherwise, I would say it depends on what your overall goals are. If an artist primarily wants to "express himself" and "make a statement" with little need for an income from his or her art, the artist has all the flexibility in the world. Some of Alyssa Monk's work I'd be happy to hang on my walls, but not all of it.

Speaking as someone whose kids need braces and whose family depends heavily on my income, however, I can't afford to paint things that are depressing or make people uncomfortable. That issue in and of itself decides what I paint, pretty much. I paint things that I know will be sold, and I make sure of it by doing just commissioned work.

Alexandra Tyng · 10-14-2005, 11:22 AM

I find there is a fine line between corny and not corny. When a painting is corny or overdone in some way, it makes me cringe. Kim, your work is not like that, at least what I've seen of it.

I'm probably talking more about what I prefer to paint. I find that, if I set out just to paint someone, I usually am more successful at picking up the subtle emotions than if I set out to do a thematic painting and make the emotion obvious.

I guess I'm not really moved to paint anguish and despair, though I admire those who can do so successfully. I still think the paintings I most enjoy looking at are those with some degree of ambiguity. For instance, Kim, your Unrequited raises some question in the viewer, even if one knows the title. I keep staring at it, wondering what is going on in her mind and emotions even though I empathize strongly. I like staring at a painting, wondering what the person is feeling and thinking, wondering what the person is/was like.

Alex

Andrea Kantrowitz · 10-14-2005, 12:04 PM

Monk's work is really interesting, thanks for making us aware of it. I think she has a very different audience than the professional portrait artist, an audience that is probably looking for edgier work, and I can't help being a bit jealous.

Michele, i relate to your comment about kids who need braces. That's why I turned to portrait commissions (and my guess is a lot of people on this forum would agree) it was the best way I could figure out to make money as a working mom with skills I already had, and still have the flexibility to be there for my kids.

Its been a struggle for since the first commision to balance what I knew and loved about painting before, with what I've learned about pleasing the client since. The emotional qualities are always key in what parents want to see in their children.

By the way, do people know The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expression ?
Gary Faigin is extremely thorough in breaking down the anatomy of emotional expression in the face, and I've found this a useful reference for myself, and for teaching.