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| Franie encaustic mixed media on birch 6x6 |
I just left a long winded post for a good friend, Kat Sloma, over on her blog - Kateyestudio She was pondering the concept of labeling in the art world. She is a photographer. Now, I ask you.. does that conjure up a picture in your mind of what her art might be like? I know the label photographer definitely brings up images of traditional photography in my mind. Yet, her art is beautifully altered photos done digitally. She is really good at it and her art is beautiful. However, her question is - is what I do photography? That's where her roots are and where her artwork starts - as a beautifully taken photograph. Yet, after she works her digital magic - her art looks more like a painting. It brings up a really good question of labeling.
So, I label myself as an encaustic artist - yet the representational work that I do in encaustic is the minority of what is done. Most people conjure up the idea of beautiful textured abstract work as the stereotype for encaustic. Yet, as a medium it is hugely diverse... There is encaustic collograph printing, encaustic over clay, rich beautiful monoprints Its endless what can be done with the medium, yet is there a stereotype? An expectation if someone says - I am an encaustic artist? Is there a label? How about other artists - oil painters, acrylic painters and watercolorists? Is there a stereotype with these mediums? Or have these been around so long with so many different representations done that people are open to and curious about what it is versus planting a stereotype? Its an interesting subject to ponder.
Happy Friday everyone!
The bird looks gorgeous with those textures! I think it's great when different mediums cross into each other -- makes for interesting artwork. Thank you for sharing and happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteYour work is so beautiful, I just love it!
ReplyDeleteOh your bird is beautiful, so much texture and you captured him beautifully..
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF.
Sandy :)
I love all your work! I don't think. Of course you are! The subject or technique is still Encaustics, you just made it yours ♥
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! Happy PPF, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHuh, big questions - what is art, who's an artist?
ReplyDeleteI like Kat's pictures but I'm not pro nor artist so I can't answer your questions...
Happy PPF!
my blog - > BLOGitse
First your little bird is gorgeous. Second this is something i just had a similar conversation with my friend Sandra about! I have been exploiting a list less representational style recently and read a book called realistic abstracts-seems like a contradiction, right? ! But there are so many overlaps between realism, impressionism, abstraction and I'm only now starting to appreciate that there is so much more to abstract art than mondrian or Jackson pollock. Then when you add the medium into the mix-that's a whole other issue. I think maybe there a more clear cut stereotype for photography whether right or wrong but within each medium there are so many different techniques that it would be impossible to think of, say, acrylic and immediately know what the typical subject mayst or type of painting style would be. I love impasto and thick texture but other artists may use very thin watery acrylic barely covering the canvas surface-there's just too much variation to pigeon hole & that is the joy of art-to each and every one of us it means something different but it's all still art!
ReplyDelete*exploiting a list should be exploring a less!! Teach me to spell check!
ReplyDeleteDear Marji, lovely piece. I think we all are artists in our lives. we all have got different talents. The most important is to find the artist in ourselves and nourish it and accept it. Simply with labels or without them :)
ReplyDeletehttp://agagasiniak.blogspot.co.uk
The bird is excellent, love it!
ReplyDeleteYour bird is beautiful. You have a lot of talent with wax.
ReplyDeleteYou encaustic work is always so gorgeous and really almost like magic to those of us who do not work in wax. I think my label would be crafter since I love to do cards, making the background papers with inks, stencils, etc. I don't think I can call myself an artist of any kind.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful rich color and great textures! I do a little encaustic and your art inspires me!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what to label myself or if i even want a label... I'm kind of a Jill of Trades and dabble in a little bit of everything..... I don't think i'd want to be pigeon-holed by a label. :) Hugs! deb
ReplyDeletebeautiful piece, as we continue to ponder....
ReplyDeleteA great subject for discussion. I always wonder if I try something new am I forsaking what I "do". I try it anyway, as I learn so much! Love, love your sparrow.
ReplyDeleteVery nice work...Labels are hard...when I use mixed media artist it seems to cover all my bases.
ReplyDeleteAAaaaaahhhh....this painting just fills my eyes. So lovely...sweet.
ReplyDeleteYour art work is stunning - what a sweet little bird!
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts about labeling are interesting. I am a photographer and a mixed media artist - at least that's what I call myself. However, I feel with this kind of labeling I put myself in a drawer where I might not belong. I don't want to limit myself by some ideas we have about certain labels.
Beautiful art work. To answer your question... I think all artist have a favorite medium / media , but as creatives we love to push the boundaries and experiment.
ReplyDeleteYour bird is beautiful and lifelike.... I hate putting labels on art. I don't understand why people always feel the need to put everything into categories, but sadly, most do. I think your art is unique and you, and it doesn';t need a label ....
ReplyDeleteI love the materials you used and how he looks. That is like the bird I drew/painted last week. Blessings, Janet PPF
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