I received a grant this week to create large abstract expressionist paintings. Sturdy stretcher bars are big money (this size canvas costs $100 before first stroke of paint). Stuckism is critical of abstraction, and I used to be all Stuckist, but am not anymore. I have always suspected that painting can be like playing a trumpet, beating a drum, or keening at a funeral. It doesn’t need the figure just like the songs don’t need the lyrics. And now I know it’s true, because I tried it and feel like I’ve experienced a big change but nothing much at all. Anyway, 85 out of a 100 times an abstract painting will reveal obvious figuration conjuring optical vibrations (like a saxophone does with sound waves) transforming them with the dual magic of the 10,000 things to create never-before-seen pictures in our heads. “That looks like a giraffe riding in a convertible.” “I see someone smoking a log cigarette.” “Obviously Foghorn Leghorn combing his comb in the mirror.”
This reminds me of the proverbial 90% rule in art (that when you think you're 90% done, you're actually done, lest you futz until you ruin the thing), because I have found that the rule doesn't really apply to me, either. The reflexive, non-ego-associated, almost unconscious futzing that invariably kicks in at the just-beyond-90% point is what gets me to that element of surprise that is necessary for the process to achieve "completion." I'm neither as prolific nor ever as abstract (and marvelously inarticulate!) as you are, but I have enough experience in creating art for this piece and your narrative behind it to resonate.
This reminds me of the proverbial 90% rule in art (that when you think you're 90% done, you're actually done, lest you futz until you ruin the thing), because I have found that the rule doesn't really apply to me, either. The reflexive, non-ego-associated, almost unconscious futzing that invariably kicks in at the just-beyond-90% point is what gets me to that element of surprise that is necessary for the process to achieve "completion." I'm neither as prolific nor ever as abstract (and marvelously inarticulate!) as you are, but I have enough experience in creating art for this piece and your narrative behind it to resonate.
I really appreciated this post--for my own inarticulate reasons/seasons.
Rose is wise!