Friday, May 27, 2011

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM/ 'Figurative Constructs' by Eric Whollem, 1984/ Contemporary Mixed Media Art




Figurative Constructs
1984
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
Collection of the artist
4 1/2" x 3"
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM

The work above, entitled 'Figurative Constructs,' incorporates
pictographic elements from prehistoric rock art. Some might
compare this work to that of children's art. Many modern artists,
such as Paul Klee and Joan Miro attempted to idealize the art of
children and transmute it into contemporary design.

The works of avant garde artists, such as the Danish artist, Asger
Jorn, are recalled by the approaches I have taken here.

Other artists, such as Jean Dubuffet, championed the art of lunatics;
he developed what is now referred to as Art Brut. Earlier in the days
of Cubism, Matisse and other artists who idealized Van Gogh,
produced the Fauvist movement~the term 'fauve' meaning 'wild
beast.' 

These are just a few of the undercurrents of style that culminated in
twentieth century art. In our time artists have reached to the furthest
extremities of human expression.

It is probably too soon to evaluate the art of the twenty-first century.
No doubt the process of distilling the approaches of the twentieth
century will continue. The lure of novelty will always be counter-
balanced by a return to classical formulations. It's a tale of
transmutation.


NOTE ON THIS PAINTING

The work above, as an example of 'figurative expressionism,' relates
to the West Coast School of Figurative Expressionism, in which I
personally was schooled, having studied under Elmer Bischoff at
U.C. Berkeley in the early 1970's.

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See Wikipedia's article on AMERICAN FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM:

More of my posts on FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM can be accessed here:


Figurative Abstractions by Eric Whollem          


My online GALLERY of ABSTRACT ART may be seen on these posts:


Whimsical Abstractions by Eric Whollem            


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