Artists I find interesting or intriguing
I should start with Matisse and Picasso as two giant influences. I deeply admire their practice, drawings, designs, and, in Matisse’s case, his mastery of colours. I also feel connected to them because of their connection to France and Paris, where I was born. I would have much to say and explore here, but I am also conscious that I would be walking a well-worn path, so instead, I focussed on more contemporary artists I find interesting or intriguing.
Wayne Thiebaud
Source: https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Cupcake/7CC6449DEA6927CC
I am fascinated by Wayne Thiebaud’s paintings of “sugary stuff” and other consumer goods with his fluffy, luscious impasto application. I am particularly drawn to the way he renders cakes as characters and invite us to reflect on the role they play in our everyday life. I understand he was affiliated with the Pop Art movement but did not associate himself with it. I can also see why: his paintings are more reverential and nostalgic. His work seems to come from a contemplation about the “things” which make up our modern life and I find this very relatable. I am also inspired by his mastery of drawing, and his simplistic backgrounds. His portraits are fabulous too. He reminds me of Edward Hopper, another of my favourite painters. I went to the exhibition of some of his work at the Courtauld gallery last October. I have notes and lots to say but I’ll keep this for another post!
David Hockney
He’s another of my favourite contemporary artists. I love his bright colours. He’s another draughtsman painter. There’s the same contemplation and connection to the world we live in his work. I understand he is also connected with the 1960s British Pop Art although I think again that would be a much too superficial affiliation. I share his interest for technology and image making at the service of traditional observational skills (not as a replacement). I also had the opportunity to see his exhibition in Paris and that was a memorable experience. The elements of repetition, the “video paintings”, his experimentations with multi-perspective compositions through different media including collage, and relation to Cubism and Chinese scroll paintings are among the many aspects of his practice that fascinates me and I had explored a little during my foundation course.
https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en/events/david-hockney-25
Andy Warhol
He’s the first artist who inspired me to explore my artistic drive! I visited an exhibition in the High Museum of Art in 2017 and learnt that he started out by using the “blotted-line” printing technique where he would use trace images in ink blots and transfer them. I find his use of photographs and printing interesting. I love his earlier prints of cats and shoes and his screen prints.
Women artists I find interesting or intriguing
I listened to Kathy Hessel’s (2024) book The Story of Art (without Men) and she convinced me that I should make an effort to actively study women painters as most of them have routinely been excluded from the History of Art. I am intrigued by, and admire, women whose Art exudes a sense of fearlessness and freedom.
Suzanne Valadon
I knew of her painting “The Blue Room (La Chambre Bleue)” before I knew of her and I loved the boldness of this artwork. I visited an exhibition at the Pompidou Centre in Paris last Easter and was taken aback by her work. She’s a true draughtswoman (sic!) and her drawings, colours, and the scale of her work are truly impressive. I learnt more about her personal history and struggles and her character reminded me of my mother’s (who also raised me by herself). I like how she uses bold lines and bold saturated colours in her paintings and find her drawings equally appealing.
Katherine Bernhardt
I came across Katherine Bernhardt during my foundation course. One day I decided to go to the library and go through the Vitamin P3 anthology. Her “Jungle food” painting made a really strong impression. One of these one-trial learning memories. I find it intriguing because it’s both beautiful and ugly, bright and messy. I also like the repetition of motifs and the blue-green and pink colours.
Exploring a little more, I find her work on instagram. I find her use of fluorescent colours quite interesting and I share her references to mid-eighties icons like the Pink Panther! I find her cultural references resonate with my own uprising as opposed to earlier work which echoes and reflects on times and cultural icons which existed before me.
Marisol
The last woman artist is one I discovered through this exercise by exploring online galleries. I was intrigued by her work and how she created three-dimensional paintings, and in fact put herself inside her own paintings on different levels.
I know very little about her but there is a lot to unpack in this photograph alone!
Conclusions
I have enjoyed working on this first exercise prompts. I can see already some common themes and ideas which are popping up. I feel I overdid it but that will always be my struggle: it takes me a while to ruminate and then when I unleash what’s on my mind, it’s hard to stop!
