Friday, May 20, 2011

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM/ 'The Divine Expression' by Eric Whollem, 1984/ A mixed media work on paper/ A geometric abstraction based on Native American petroglyphs



The Divine Expression
1984
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
Collection of the artist
5 7/16" x 4 1/4"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Rock Art: Inspiration for Modern Art

The above work is styled on the rock art of the
Native Americans. This type of art has been my
interest for many years. I was lucky enough to
have found a copy of Heizer's book, 'The Prehistoric
Rock Art of California,' many years ago. This book
I highly recommend to all students of art.


THE WEST COAST SCHOOL OF FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM

See my recent post with 'Notes on the West Coast
School of Figurative Expressionism,' for information
on my association to major artists within this tradition.

Figurative Expressionism has a number of major schools:
that of New York and that of the West Coast, or the
California Bay Area are the best known.

Elmer Bischoff, of the U.C.Berkeley art department, a leading
member of the West Coast Figurative Expressionists, was my
teacher.

There also have been figurative expressionists in Chicago and
Boston. See the Wikipedia link below for a fuller story.


COMMENTS ON THE ROLE OF FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM IN MODERN ART

Some critics idealize Abstract Expressionism and regard Figurative
Expressionism as somehow an indication of 'decline.' This is a matter
of opinion, of course. We cannot freeze time and live in the 1950's
forever.

Abstract Expressionism was one of the first major accomplishments of
modern American art and put American art 'on the map' for the first time
in international art. Such accomplishments are historically significant.

But art is always changing. There will always be those who utilize
anthropomorphic elements in their art; and perhaps there will always be
nonobjective art.

Opinions change as well as styles in art and culture.
_________________

Those interested in my posts about PICTOGRAPHS AND PETROGLYPHS should see this link:


A video about my pictographic abstractions.            


More of my ABSTRACT ART may be seen here:



Figurative Abstractions.                     

This link will take you to WIKIPEDIA's article on Figurative Expressionism

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