We all have our favorite artists that we rush to see whenever a museum or gallery exhibition opens that features their art or when an art blogger publishes a new article about them. Their art speaks to us with resounding clarity. We understand their techniques and embrace their philosophies. And, the opposite is true about our least favorite artists. We simply cannot relate to them. We may dismiss them as a waste of our time and they have no place in our lives.
Well, that might be a mistake. In this article I share an experience I had and why I suggest keeping an open mind about artists and art movements may be a good idea — in fact choosing to do so might improve your life as an artist in surprising ways.
One of my favorite categories of videos on Youtube are lectures presented by art historians and curators. Recently, as I scrolled through the selections available to me, I noticed a documentary about Piet Mondrian. He is an artist who has been on “my least favorite artists” list. I would never go out of my way to see an exhibition of his art.
However, something about seeing his name in this video promotion raised my curiosity, so I watched it. After all, Mondrian is known for being one of the pioneers of 20th-century abstract art, right? So, why not find out why?
New Revelations about Art Movements
Surprisingly, watching the video opened my eyes to new art perspectives that I had previously ignored or dismissed as irrelevant. Now, it was as though a spotlight was shining on important art-related areas that were once hiding in the shadows.
In this video I learned how Mondrian defined a new reality in art. His art had an enormous influence on the course of abstract painting and numerous major styles and art movements such as Color Field painting, Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism. He was one of the founders of the De Stijl art movement and group. He created a non-representational art form which he named Neoplasticism and it became new “pure plastic art” which he believed was necessary in order to create “universal beauty”.
I also learned about the current events at the time that influenced his artistic direction and that one of his strongest influencers was Matisse. I became acquainted with his art from his earlier periods that were rooted in realism and how his art always remained connected to nature.
Giving Artists a Chance
I recall feeling the same way about Jackson Pollock once upon a time until I saw his retrospective at MoMA, in NYC, NY. This exhibition completely revolutionized the way I view his art, techniques, and place in art history. He has since been added to my list of favorite artists.
As an arts writer and artist mentor I see many different connections between artists past and present. Their ideas about color, form, space, relationships, tension, contrast, continuously offer a more expansive viewpoint and increase my resources and references. The more I learn the more I can improve my services.
Propelled by excitement and curiosity I watch videos and read art reviews about artists I know very little about. Periodically, I take books from my library and open new chapters to satiate my desire to learn more.
Expand Your Artistic Journey!
Are there some artists from art history who are on your “least favorite artists” list? Perhaps to you their art has no redeeming qualities. You may wonder why they ever made it into the art history books and major collectors’ hands.
You may want to choose one of your least favorite artists. With an open mind and desire to learn something new, take some time to watch a video, read a book, or attend a lecture about them. Be patient, let go of judgements, and consider what you might gain from this new relationship.
Some Discoveries that Await You
You may become a more informed artist about the many different art movements.
You may be inspired to integrate different artistic elements into your own work.
You may learn that some artists and their creative directions and beliefs may be more relevant than you believe.
You might realize that letting go of preconceptions helps you to grow and evolve as an artist and individual.
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