I am always watchful for that quality of variety, in combination with balance, which characterizes the most satisfying and enduring art. Complexity, diversity, ingenuity and originality abound, and so does symmetry and equilibrium. But both in the same work of art is an elusive ideal.
I consider these paintings by California artist Vanessa Stafford to be outstanding examples of this ideal.
http://www.buffettstudios.com/
I consider these paintings by California artist Vanessa Stafford to be outstanding examples of this ideal.
http://www.buffettstudios.com/
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteLooking at the paintings of Ms Offermann and Ms Stafford, I was reminded of an old book you may recall, Heinrich Wölfflin's Principles of Art History. I read it between jaunts to bowling alleys ;-D
His distinction between painterly and linear were helpful in appreciating the visions of many painters. Ms Offermann's works are more extremely linear than Ms Stafford's. Meaning objects are give hard and explicit outlines. Ms Stafford's objects are distinguished by terminating its color sharply against the adjacent object or background.
Although clarity of edges is central to Wolfflin's distinction, Maryann Sures used the term conceptual to further refine the idea of linear to indicate the continuous modeling of surfaces without reliance on lines to distinguish, say various parts of hands, arms, folds in fabrics, etc..
The modeling was achieved by subtle gradation of color and shadow to convey solidity and dimension. In effect, sculpting a painting by color gradations.
George