Art Styles

Art Styles are not needed

Here are information about the art styles that the paintings in this gallery are influenced from. But that is not right, the paintings made here are influenced by everything and nothing. The art that is created and transformed from a thougt and/or feeling to physical form, such as shapes and colors, is just energy and does not care about what styles are available.

The art here is free and does not fit in any style, but we can call it abstract art, modern art etc. And no one needs to know anything about art styles, important are your feelings for a painting, sculpture etc. We need less thoughts and more feelings* in our world.

(* Good feelings are preferred, but negative feelings needs to be there also, because without the negative we would not know which the positive are)

Abstract art is not listed under art styles, it has it own “area”, more about Abstract Art

Art Styles – Introduction

Art styles in painting earned different classifications according to the time periods, individuals and expression of work that moved beyond what was presently known. There are several categories and sub-categories of art styles that emerged from changing cultures, individual backgrounds and a desire to convey the thoughts and attitudes of life. Not unlike a good novel that can take you into another time or place and unleash emotions, different art styles use unique characteristics that present drama, joy, sadness or mental stimulation. This is done through color, texture, design and shading in an aesthetic manner that is appealing and relevant but presented in different forms.

Realism
One of the leading art styles that many can relate to is realism. Based on presenting landscapes and people exactly as they appear is the main goal behind these types of paintings. Leonardo Da Vinci was best known for introducing the vividness of life as seen through his eyes in paintings such as ‘Mona Lisa’, ‘The Last Supper’ and ‘Madonna and Child’. Photography had not been invented in 1452 when Da Vinci began capturing the real life expressions of people and the beauty of nature. But even after photography was invented realism painting continued due to the emotion and dynamics that an artist can expose through individual style. Progressing past everyday life, realism painting has come to include politics, science, poetry and Photorealism that resembles photography. Almost any subject can be painted in realism but it takes a skilled artist to be able to bring out the emotions that are often missing in an ordinary photograph.

Impressionism
Impressionism art was first seen in France during the late 19th century. There is little detail in the landscapes that are painted but colors are bold and shimmering. Claude Monet is the artist most associated with art styles that present impressionism. Although mostly outdoor scenes offer only a snapshot of the subject, the mind is able to capture the reality that lies within. ‘Morning Haze’ and ‘Lily Pond’ by Monet are examples of how colors, shading and texture are used to separate this form of painting from other art styles. Small, thin brush strokes, emphasis of the changing qualities of light and free composition are used to accent ordinary scenes into a rich experience in beauty. Monet featured his painting ‘Sunrise’ at a Paris art show where other artists shared their work featuring patchy textures with a subdued play with light. A critic visiting the show described the new debut as ‘impressionist’ and the movement was born.

Expressionism
Similar to Realism but separate in the fact that the artist is more concerned with conveying a certain feeling, Expressionism draws on a scene but weaved through emotion. Usually based on life as seen through the experiences of the artist, memories are easily preserved through how a moment is perceived and the passion created through individual attitude. Marc Chagall’s art styles in painting are considered Expressionism as viewed in ‘Green Violinist’. Born in Russia and immigrated to the US in 1941, Chagall uses his love of the violin and special times with an uncle to bring out the warm and joyful experiences. You will not see an effort of duplication of a realistic scene but rather an outline of the subject that is molded into distinction of sentiment.

Surrealism
Surrealism is a fascinating type of art that is based on a dreamlike state that delivers a mysterious or strange twist to reality. Opening the mind to see the normal in a different pattern and stirring feelings that would otherwise stay hidden is the ultimate hope that surrealist painters wish to achieve. A ‘what if’ notion that takes hold of the subconscious that takes you on a journey based on reality gone wild can make one feel as if fantasy is not really that far away. The movement started in the early 1920s during World War I when Dadaists believed that capitalists were responsible for the war. They used artistic skills to deliver a pompous and bent reflection of social ills of the period. As time went on, the tone changed by different artists throughout the world that chose to present more enriching aspects of society. A master of surrealism painting, like ‘Forest and Dove’ by Max Ernst delivers both enchantment and fear by using textures to give a three-dimensional appearance to a child’s worst fear, the mysterious forest at night. And maybe most known for his surrealistic work is Salvador Dali.

Abstract Art
Abstract art is also referred to as nonobjective or nonrepresentational art. An image can be totally unidentifiable while conveying a sensation. The artist erases any sign of reality and replaces with a visual perception in relation to science, technology and philosophy using shapes, lines and colors. This bold new way of painting came at the end of the 19th century when social and intellectual theories were on the rise. Daring to be elusive to the past Western art that was comfortable and recognizable, this new group targeted the unknown, the lack of perspective and the perfect way to conduct a theoretical argument by the shapes, tones and feelings that abstraction displayed. Henri Matisse is one of many that took Paris by storm with wild multi-colors and unusual shapes but revolutionized the art world. A new freedom was born that let go of the normal, accepted reign of art styles. Cubism and Fauvism are said to have added to this raw and undefined method of painting.

You can see how the different art styles have something in common but are individual in their own right. As different periods of time progress, there will surely be more art styles to add to this list. As long as artists are able to grow and perceive life from different angles, the public will be able to enjoy art styles in miraculous ways that entertain, please and tickle the mind.