Modern Art and My Artistic Taste
Let me just say up front: I hate modern art and think it is complete garbage. It is nothing more than the pretentious posturing of no-talent hacks who wish to create the illusion of profundity. Take the following:
Now who the hell would want to hang this thing on their wall? Besides being ugly, it makes me want to have an epileptic fit. Now, if you ask me, this modern art looks like nothing more than kids playing with markers:
mixta_lienzo.jpg "modern turd 2")
And its all the same, its all so “avant garde,” yet its all so predictable. And the above is the semi-respectable stuff. I mean, don’t even get me started on the Giant Vigina Art or other crap like that.
So, now that we’ve hosed the crap out, let me show you a few examples of artists I think are damn good.
Luis Royo
Royo is simply amazing. Many of his paintings combine spectacular illustration, sexiness, and mystery. The above is one of my favorite paintings by him, but here are a few more examples:
Moving right along…
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
.JPG "roman widow")
and finally…
John Williams Waterhouse
A funny thing just occured. I didn’t realize that EVERY SINGLE ONE of my favorite paintings is a portrait of a woman until I put them all together here. Hmmm…interesting psychology, eh? I’ll have to see what Adam says about that one. Oh, and Josh doesn’t like my art, he calls it “photorealistic.” Its not, and the term is offensive, but I won’t get into that here. Anyway, leave me a comment so that I know you were here and tell me what you think of my artistic taste.
Well I like your taste in art. Especially Rossetti. His paintings have bold/rich colors that all work well together.
The best painting among those is the Waterhouse with the girl in the boat.
These works aren’t bad by any means. I just prefer a less realistic style.
I prefer something more along the lines of this sort of style. http://ayamefataru.deviantart.com/art/My-Very-Own-Gelfling-48248369
There is more room for the artist’s own personality to come through in the work, since he has more room to play with the rules of representation.
almightyzentaco,
I like the picture you linked too. I love any good illustration. The one you linked is “realistic” as well, in case you didn’t realize. Its an illustration of a gelfling.
Waterhouse is my favorite painter actually, and its because almost all of his paintings are of women in a mythological theme. Some of my favorites are Narcissus and Echo: http://www.essentialart.com/ea/John_William_Waterhouse_Echo_and_Narcissus.jpg, Ophelia : http://www.aug.edu/~nprinsky/Humn2001/ShakespHamletPix/WaterhouseOpheliaInField.jpg, and Hylas and the Nymphs: http://www.praeraffaeliten.de/bilder/Waterhouse-Hylas-Nymphs.jpg
Hey, I have the same predilection for women in art, so I can’t say anything about it. I think it is because woman is the archetype for Beauty. And, Waterhouse puts woman in Nature, creating, I think, the perfect image.
Dionysos,
I never knew Waterhouse was your favorite. I’ve seen those others you posted there, with the exception of the Opheliaian Field. Is that a reference to Hamlet? It is very excellent, a new favorite of mine.
Katherine,
Rosetti’s colors is one of the things I really love about him. I don’t have the artistic expertise to really describe it, but it does something to the whole mood of the painting.
Wow, I’m not as familiar with Rossetti – I especially love Lady Lilith. Waterhouse of course is amazing – I wish I could paint his flesh tones.
I think your take on art is interesting. I don’t necessarily agree with your opinion on *all* modern art – its a bit too encompassing. Some modern art has its value, but there are definitely fakes among them. You can think about modern art as a way to create art that shows more of the technical side of art, the principles and elements of art.
Anyway, your choice in artists is nice too. I didn’t know about these and love a chance to see new, great work. Thanks for the interesting website.
I think “Josh” has made a fair observation. You seem to have a fascination with photorealistic representations; and, given the drubbing you’ve subjected modern art to, it’s not quite fair to appeal to propriety (“that’s offensive”) as a defense.
Talent for representation is not the same thing as art. That said, there are some — I think most would agree — fine works of art among your choices. I would probably not hang any of them up on my wall though … (Royo’s stuff is interesting and well done, but I don’t quite consider it art).
Besides women, there is an obvious thread of fantasy (beginning with Royo but continuing in subtle ways in the other pieces) in your choices — suggesting your artistic taste also relies on, to some degree, thematic fascination.
I thin modern art is not a complete garbage!
Man modern art was way not the whole thin too for the skin but what the hell? Indigo smarter then you spac-lord! Heh, or for the wither, what do it knoe or not kno, not me. Anyway, ever stuck in foot knot, and I untie it.
I say, old chaps, this website is quite bellicose! A ripping good time! Well, we British sometimes don’t understand your American humour and your propensity toward confrontation, but well, pour me a gin and tonic, and away I’ll go! Any time, just ring me on my cellular, and we’ll engage in a little dialectic!
Gelflings are the most horrible creatures ever created. I actually am in favor of the Skeksis. I hope all gelflings die a horrible, painful death. Why couldn’t that female gelfling have been sucked of all her energy by the vultures, and she would have been just a raisin gelfling. Alll gelflings should go to hell.
The prophecy should run thus:
Never shall the triple sun be one,
the gelflings, horrible smelly creatures,
They are so stupid, loved by none
their faces have such disgusting, muppet features.
That’s a damn good poem! You are a freaking poet. It even rhymes.
What can I say? I am inspired by my revulsion to gelflings.
SKEKSIS RULE!!!
GELFLINGS DROOL!!!
I completely agree with your blog posting. I can’t stand “contemporary art” either. I know quite a few people in my town who consider themselves “Artists” and they create the same kind of crappy pieces my 7 year old could (and does) do. And you bet, I totally consider then hacks. Posers. Big-headed. They need to study more. Some people have artistic talent, yes – that is, they have a natural eagerness and intellectual predisposition for the craft – but it takes YEARS of learned skill to actually become good at it in most cases.
When I think of true art, I think of technique, lighting, texture, meaning, something that makes me stare for longer than 5 seconds, etc… Basically, I compare other works of art with my own: “What phase of my life did I create a piece like that”/ or “wow, that’s amazing, I need to learn how to do that!”
Scribbles in crayon don’t do anything for me.
You’re not just born as an artist. At three, I did some damn good drawings (for being three) but I seriously doubt any museum would ever display them. You can’t just wake up one day and go “I think I’ll become a professional artist today!” and expect perfection. Hell, after 29 years, I STILL don’t think I’ve got it all down. I look at people like John Williams and go, “Man, I need to look closer. Take more time. Do a better job.” It’s inspiring. I like being inspired to become better.
I was just looking luis royo and i love his art. I agree with your earlier comments. Its not pleasing to my eye to see crap on the wall. The other two i didn’t fancy either as they’re not to my tastes.
What was your favorite royo peice? It didn’t show up on the page. My favorite’s always been Liberty.
It’s hard to choose a favorite Royo, but I’d probably have to say Succubus from the “Subversive Beauty” collection.