Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Rooster Crow

                                                          La Promenade by Claude Monet

Monet had little to worry over during his lifetime. Unlike Van Gogh, who faced a lifetime in obscurity and financial destitution, Monet had ninety-nine problems and selling art wasn't one.
I talked about Monet's relatively low level of inhibition 
a few posts ago.
 I've also mentioned the majesty of Van Gogh's dream for humanity.

Understanding an artist's message is difficult. Do they act as prophets displaying hieroglyphic symbols with hidden meaning or are they vying for humanity's transcendental enlightenment? 

I talked about visiting museums a few posts ago. 
When we visit a museum to view artwork,
we participate in cultural empathy,
not to get kicked out. 
But if you want to get kicked out (can be fun sometimes),
 just follow the last post about museums. It'll go well for you. 

An audience remains the most critical part of the artist's endeavor; they witness the final painting. 
Artists always have their audience in mind. 
Not because there is a powerful symbol they want to creep forth through the canvas and sit in everyone's subconscious.
These symbols do get painted in regularly and can even be the reason behind starting a piece.

However, after a piece leaves the artist's studio, the painting is now for the world's participation and consumption.
Everyone is free to decide how they feel about a painting.
(No worries. You don't need a weird aluminum foil hat.)
Zombie-Rex Juice Anyone?

Hopefully it's more than just a general response that the artwork is "powerful" or "moving". These words are empty and don't reflect that any new type of insight reached the audience.
Paintings are ideas put to canvas. Not just the paint and canvas. 

When something is "powerfully moving", that means it really stinks. Nothing in the painting grabs the viewer. The artist seems uninspired. The canvas may as well go where other movements go.
 Into the toilet. The artist may want to go there too.
If we look at La Promenade, and only stare at its beauty, we will have lost nothing. Monet will still have made his money. Van Gogh will still have died without any. 
Yet, if we approach the piece and realize what it means to us, what it could represent for others, then we will have participated in an act that far surpasses the freeing beauty of uncertainty
trapped in a parasol wielding woman who smiles a challenge
towards our notions of security. The boy without a smile becomes us; we stare, trapped in the sunlight that dances off the dress. A time, that has left us before it arrived, just as light travels through the vacuum of space, dances through a meadow -- forgetting it's duty to fate, instead, going on holiday to play in the breeze.

Steampunk Promenade
By: Nic Tatum

Let's struggle against the machine that binds us to live without creativity and develop empathy for culture.
It is our job to witness the journey of painters, sculptors, artists, writers, poets, and dreamers. The child in all of us stands in Monet's painting staring back an audience, people living quite a different life, as if asking them, "Of what good is a life not explored to every capacity?"

Monday, October 31, 2011

Gothic Halloween

                                        Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane by John Quidor

 Happy Halloween! 
I'd like to talk to you about Gothic culture, artwork, and history today. 

Let's get all of the facts out of our way first. 
       Old Gothic culture isn't:
  1. Painting ones eyes black.
  2. Reading literature by authors obsessed with death.
  3. Worshiping the dark lord.
  4. Taking baths in blood.
  5. Being a sparkly vampire.
  6. Being a wolf in a man's body.
  7. Being either of these mythical creatures' lover. 
  8. Listening to Ozzy Osborne
  9. Wearing those cool tentacle synthetic dreads
  10. And lastly, it is most definitely not (sadly) wearing Victorian clothing. 
 Gothic terminology has gotten out of hand these days.
During 1930, Grant Wood forever blemished historical art terminology with American Gothic.


This painting represents the world of aging puritan America. The farmer and his obedient wife pose before a house that is painfully not Gothic. This painting doesn't even fit our modern pop culture terminology for gothic
Let's bring it up to date.

Zalgo

I apologize for the stereotypes perpetrated in this blogpost. I wish that they didn't exist. By that I mean stereotypes, not Goths. Goths are cool. 
Moving on.

Grant Wood painted and developed this notion that America had a large gap in a specific area of culture. However, America is a hodge podge of people. It has always had gaps. 
On one side of the 1930s, we have major cities struggling with the Great Depression. On the other, we have these farmers that come from heavily puritanical backgrounds facing down the Dust Bowl which claimed millions of acres of rich farmland. To the farmers, big cities are immersed in sin and the economic depression and the loss of their land is direct result of God's anger with excessive living.
                                                      Still Life Abraham Mignon (1640-1679)
To the city dwellers who have no food, the farmers are evil backwoods people that charge too much for their produce and besides that, they're creepy.

Regardless of all of these facts, American Gothic delivers a harsh message about the course of time and development. Within bigger cities we see the rushed creative culture that survives off of goods in which its population cannot possibly synthesize for themselves. 

They don't harvest beef in a city. That takes a pitchfork and plenty of land.
The scale tilts in the favor of the Puritans when it comes to producing what the city needs to survive. Yet, they were considered old fashioned, barbaric, and largely illiterate. The illiterate part may have been true. 

One might even say they were just like the Visigoths...

Historically Gothic culture has been in place for the past 1600 years. Since the Visigoths, where the term "Goth" gets its name, toppled the Roman Empire in 408 AD, people have feared this gothic presence.
                                            Sack of Rome by the Visigoths on 24 August 410               
                                                                     By: J.N. Sylvestre

I would be afraid too if my own ancient culture, which had conquered the entire known world, was destroyed in moments by crude warriors with bad hygiene and a couple of ropes.

These were the true goths. They wore no eye makeup. They barely wore anything. In fact they closely resembled hippies on steroids. They were what most people could consider as "anti-goth" in our present day. 

The exchange of old ideal and new ideal happens to be the root cause of Goth as a term. 
The Visigoths went on to take over the old Roman empire and for several hundred years the Roman empire tried to regroup, experimented with Christianity,
and became known for fine cuisine and architecture. With all of their technological and political advancements the Roman empire became known as an old idea.

The Goths would make their own architecture as well. Christianity fed into the powerful new regime. They inspired the goths to create large churches. These churches still exist. A large repository for Gothic architecture resides in France.
Gothic art was considered a "french style".
                                                           Batalha Monastery, Portugal
    Notice the windows? They're very similar to the house from the Grant Wood's painting. 

During the classical age everything was flat or round, the rectangle was an actual unit of artistic measure, and buildings for religious groups were largely out in the open.
With the Gothic influence, religion went in doors. They had enough of begging for money. Now religious leaders expected the community to pay to keep the coffers full. It was for the good of their soul.  
Christianity did this by having beautifully built buildings with ornate fixtures. Sculptures were designed to strike the fear of hell into the community.

Which leads me to Halloween. 
I know. You've been waiting for it the entire time while reading this. Sorry. You're wait is over. 

Halloween or All Hallows' Eve. The time when we all dress up and go trick or treating. The time when much toilet paper drapes the trees in many a suburban front yard and if people tick you off you get to egg their property. 

This is a nearly global celebration. Wiccans, Celts, Druids, Neopagans, witches, wizards, and shamans know of it as Samhain. This is the time when our world and the supernatural world meet. 

The Visigoths were a very spiritual culture. They were called barbarians because they held tight to their superstitions. They lived in the forest, and in fact were known as "forest people."
These people believed that big scary monsters lived in the forest because they would wake up at times and notice that there were fewer people eating breakfast.

If building a church was going to help them, they built it. If they needed a spell to ward off the bogeyman they recited it. Not exactly scientifically enriched people. 

So how do we go from a superstitious people from 1600 years ago to a puritan couple in need of a couple stiff drinks.

(As seen above)

A tale from early American fiction, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was written by Washington Irving. The contents of the story's most pivotal and exciting moment have been painted several times. 
It's of Ichibod Crane, a puritan school teacher, scared and riding as fast as he can from a man on a black horse with no head. The headless rider uses a pumpkin, also known as a strong symbol of the fall harvest, that is carved into a lantern for his head. The tradition for carving pumpkins into lanterns comes from Ireland where turnips and other vegetables are carved into lanterns during the harvest season. Pumpkins are more plentiful in the U.S. and they make better lanterns.

I digress. 

The Ichibod painting represents the constant superstition and fear puritans had of the unknown. They believed in their superstitions readily, just as the Visigoths did. They built their churches and clung readily to god. This is why American Gothic, remains a cultural icon in America. 

So, now a word to our present day Goths, the steampunks, the dieselpunks, the vampire lovers, the Team Jacobs, zombie hordes, and everyone that considers themselves part of the large Gothic community. 

Happy Halloween, enjoy your superstitions, relish in your nightmarish dreams, and face your fears whether they be cold, stark, and average America -- or -- facing the endless waves
of zombies out walking about tonight looking to gobble up each household's stash of candy. 

Friday, October 28, 2011

How to Get Banned from an Art Museum

How to Get Banned from an Art Museum

Before attempting these, actually go to a museum. I know. Scary place. You may be in danger of learning something if you do. Just a friendly warning from your local Decayed Artist Society.
^_^

  1. ) Bring your dog into the museum. 
  2. ) Let the dog rip up the furniture. 
  3. ) Take a clue from canines and growl/bite patrons. 
  4. ) Pee on the walls.
  5. ) Eat food. (more on this later)
  6. ) Periodically move from painting to painting and say in a loud voice, "I love this guy. I have five of his paintings."
  7. ) When you see a painting by a famous female artist burn a bra in solidarity for feminists everywhere. 
  8. ) Prop open the door leading to the "smoking" section of the museum permanently by fastening a 2x4 into the concrete as a stop. 
  9. ) Refer to every security person as Jim. When they give you the "go to hell" look, say you're "off your meds," and bolt for the nearest bathroom.
  10. ) Set up a homeless shelter in front of anything by J.M.W. Turner. When the staff tries to remove everyone from the area, complain loudly shouting, "See what they do to decayed artists today!? This is a crime!"
  11. ) Find six paintings that you dislike. Stand at each one until you like them. If you have to answer the call to nature, just do so while standing.
  12. ) Bring everything item in a famous painting to the museum. Set it up as if the painting were real. Strike a pose in the middle. 
  13. ) Find a curator/guide. Follow them throughout the museum. Whenever they ask you if you need anything say that "you're fine." When they go home that night, leave a dead squirrel on their car's windshield. 
  14. ) Sneak in a picnic basket. Find a spring time landscape painting. Proceed to enjoy the nice weather. 
  15. ) Set up a flash mob musical that assists one of the museum's guides without telling the guide or the museum staff.  Perform it during every tour.
  16. ) Chew tobacco. Spit on floor. 
  17. ) Bring Veet. Go to a classical style nude painting. Take off your clothes and Veet yourself.
  18. ) Dress as a raccoon. As people stare at you, walk to a painting that you like and pretend to wash your hands like the furry tyke. 
  19. ) Sneak in a kazoo. Play some mood music at each masterpiece you see. 
  20. ) Dress as a clown. Make balloon animals for the children. Pop them. 
  21. ) Call the museum the day before your visit. Ask if they have regulations on sketching certain paintings. The next day show up with spray cans and some bricks expecting to sketch
  22. ) Visit your local pet shop and buy a few hermit crabs. Set them free inside the Modern Art section.
  23. ) Ask the staff if it's okay to chew gum. If they say no, chew some anyway.
  24. ) If they ask you to get rid of your gum, stick it to your shoe and walk away. 
  25. ) If they say that you can have gum, take out a package of Big League Chew, stuff all of it in your mouth, and blow bubbles obnoxiously. 
  26. ) Find a member of the staff that has a name tag. Order Chinese food using the museum's address and the staff member's name. Call a new restaurant with the same info for a week. 
  27. ) Curse loudly when ever you see the color green. If security approaches you about it, claim Tourrette's Syndrome. 
  28. ) Walk back and forth through the front door. When asked why you're doing this, tell the staff that you dropped your "special" video camera. 
  29. ) Walk in the next day saying that you had the video camera on your shirt button the entire time. 
  30. ) Find a long hallway with lots of paintings. As the curator/guide gives his tour shine a laser pointer into his face. Stop when people laugh. Raise your hand. Ask a stupid question about why a particular piece has nudes or depicts melting clocks. After he answers the question, flash the laser in his face again. Repeat this until the guide quits his job or you get kicked out.
However, I encourage you to not get kicked out of museums. 
If you have to though, the list above should work. 
Enjoy your weekend! ^_^

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Life Isn't about Finding Yourself; It's about Creating Yourself.

For the Dreamers

Today's blog is for the dreamers out there. 
 The people that don't give up on silly notions.
The ones that never for once looked back and said they couldn't. 
Everyone ever told "No," when their heart said, "Yes."

You are my subject today.
Sit back. Have some lemonade.



 Vincent Van Gogh struggled with his artwork late in life. He was a failing artist. What does it mean to be a failing artist? I guess that the term varies. 

If you're Van Gogh, it meant that you weren't selling any pieces in spite of having a large degree of talent. It meant that your brother had to support you throughout your life because
even though you were full of talent and expressed yourself wonderfully 
you were ignored by the general population because:

1.) They had no money to pay for your work. 
2.) They just didn't understand it. 
3.) The camera destroyed the need for painting portraits. 
4.) Your work seemed childish compared to other trained artists. 

Yet, you are Van Gogh. Your artwork will be worth millions one day. Just not now. 

You begin to feel the pressure as you grow older. As you cannot support yourself with your artwork you begin to feel your mind deteriorate. You turn to absinthe. Anything that can make you feel more lucid.
You destroy yourself from the inside out. When you turn 37, you're standing in a field chatting with two kids. A gun goes off. 

You walk back home. Instead of saying that there was an accident you slowly accept your fate. It takes 29 hours for you to die. For a long time people debate whether you shot yourself or the kids did it. 
Your last words are, "The sadness will last forever."

~~~~

People pay tons of money for Van Gogh. If you don't know who Van Gogh is, he painted this:


This is, The Starry Night.

Van Gogh painted this from his sanitarium window by memory during the day. It represents his happiness, his dreams, everything that he had ever wanted to accomplish for himself. 
He painted this as a reminder to the dreamers to sway their visions over humanity.

It's a big task dreamers. Let's be up to it. 

Be Dreamers
 By: Nic Tatum


  Don't avoid your dreams. Van Gogh wasn't successful during his lifetime but his paintings are world renown now. That counts more for him than if he'd received money. He carries on in fame where he cannot proceed in death. That's the power of following your dreams. 
They take you somewhere indestructible
and inspire others to do the same.

So, Van Gogh, you were wrong. The sadness did not last forever. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Claude Monet

Today's painting comes from Claude Monet's The Boat Studio
(seen above)
This talented artist developed Impressionism. Monet did well for himself. Art boomed in Europe around the 1800's. It was before the development of the camera. Artists took more liberty with materials and brush strokes. Art business was a big deal. So, big that Monet's aunt pulled strings to get the artist out of a war and into art classes. 


Seriously, it was that big. Still, considering Monet's contribution to art it inclines one to quote Arthur Schopenhauer,
                  "Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see."
  
Finding the root cause of Monet's genius is easy in my opinion. We're dealing with an artist that had very little latent inhibition.
What is latent inhibition? 
Have you ever wanted to accomplish something but decided against it? Like for instance, I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was seven. However, I decided not to when I learned that:  A.) They don't make much money. B.) They rarely get a chance to go to digs. And most importantly!!! 
C.) They have a myriad of other problems facing them, namely Zombie T-Rex.

 Serious Business...
I thought that all archaeologists wore leather hats, carried a whip, and spoke fluent Latin before I turned eight. Z-Rex kills the dreams of children around the world. Just saying. Friends don't let friends get bitten by zombified fossils. So, I let those around me influence what I wanted to be at that age. Everyone does at that age. But, we shouldn't. It dampens our creativity.

Monet didn't have the stress of latent inhibition back in the 1800's because art was seen as a necessary window into the human soul. It can still be this way for many of us if we allow it to be. Because Monet felt like he could succeed with his art, he expanded upon his own ideas, matured the idea of
Impressionism, painted -- even when he was suffering from
debilitating cataracts. He lived life fully and positively.

But,what makes Monet such a genius painter? He had very little latent inhibition. He had enough money in his pocket. Why does this mean he was an artistic legend? Well, let's take Monet's Impression: Sunrise and do some science to it!

Monet's Impression: Sunrise

When looking at this impressionist painting above, we can really notice a richness in the orange flare of the sunrise. The blues help it stand out to us. It's so bright and vivid. I know adults tell you not to look into the sun. Ignore that for a moment and stare... 

Now you can scroll down.

 
 
Notice how difficult the sun is to see? It's invisible! The reason? It's desaturated. We're looking at the painting with the eyes of an animal now. Monet is gifted with the ability to notice and paint luminescence as it's meant to be shown. Deep within our human brain, at the cortex, we are still animals, nevertheless, humans and primates are capable of seeing more distinct colors because we evolved our cortex for better vision. Monet's orange only seems brighter than the blue. It's a trick of a true genius painter.

Take that future Z-Rex overlords! You can't see Monet!

Today's painting, True Sight
By: Nic Tatum

Monet's genius is that the he wasn't scared of his future. He painted with courageousness and created a style that would later give other painters, like Vincent Van Gogh, a way to express themselves.
It gave him the truest sight imaginable.
Impressionism seems like a simple artist's style. The loose paint strokes feel childlike.
 Yet,
it's this childlike embrace with art that's true genius, perfect sight, and a much needed dismissal 
of the primal inhibitions that can deny humans their dreams. 


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Gears, Steampunk, and Light

Welcome to My New Blog! ^_^

Hello everyone!

       Welcome to SteamHound! Here I'll be posting my newest digital paintings made from world renown artists who have work in the public domain. As you read this blog expect to learn and see paintings about art history, the legacy that copyright has in an "artist's" world, and why the public domain remains important to protect today. Art speaks for humanity.

Thanks for stopping by,

Nic
                                      
                                       I Just Stick My Foot out Like That