Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A Language Other Than Words...

   Years ago, when I was teaching painting, I tried to explain abstract art to my students who had a difficult time with the non-representational form of the paintings.

   I told them that you can't look at these paintings using your regular vocabulary...that they were using a language other than words.

   Now that I am fully immersed in the abstract images I'm discovering at the pond, I can more fully embrace this concept of "a language other than words"  by which I mean they were not descriptions of "things" but translations of emotion and ideas.

   It is a language of color and movement, light and shadow, simplicity and chaos.  It is a visual experience rather than one of clear observation.

   I think that may be why abstract paintings are often very large in scale...to more fully immerse the viewer in the experience.  I'm not sure how well these photographic abstractions I'm making of the pond will translate into really large pieces.  I guess I will have to try one and see but  I do enjoy to the pure joy of working in this new visual language and like learning any new language, it will take time and practice to perfect it.



6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am very attracted to abstract and have been enjoying your visits at the pond. This picture is gorgeous!!

Patricia Turner said...

Thank you so much! We had a huge storm last night and the pond today was so beautiful...it is so different every time I visit!

kimmanleyort said...

As you know, I love abstracts and your views from the pond are exquisite. I like the idea of viewing an abstract as a visual experience.

Patricia Turner said...

Thank you Kim. I am really enjoying this new relationship I have with the landscape thanks to my pond abstractions...pure eye candy I think!

Anonymous said...

It is eye candy! But it also feeds my soul...

Patricia Turner said...

Yes, my soul is well fed by the wonderful images I am receiving at the pond.