Part of the problem with the word abstract is that most paintings that work involve a level of abstraction, in my view. What we think of as abstract painting varies. The very well art-schooled may have one definition and some of the rest of us, another.
I think of abstraction as not only a process of editing and refinement, but baring to essence - and that is a kind of continuum. That continuum may go from a photo of reality that prints out with lights and darks in certain patterns.... to Milton Avery's beach paintings.. to - oh, for example, Paul Klee's work.
I'm not so sure I want to know what the dictionary and art experts say, being happy in my own view, but what they say does apply here.
Paul Strand photo as shown on
www.aperture.com via google
a Michael Kenna photo shown on
www.soulcatcherstudio.com
Oh I love that one, osso.
It looks like music, doesn't it?
an Edward Steichen photo from staleywise.com -
I think of this one as primarily a realistic photo with abstract elements..
and I guess I think of that Kenna photo as primarily an abstract photo of a real place.
Just working out what I think on this. I'd like to see some more examples and hear what others think..
and I think of this Steichen photo from art.com as a realistic photo of a place (George Washington Bridge) with very abstract components...
huh, splitting hairs..
The M. Kenna photo looks very much like a painting. Reality does not look that good.
I wonder how he took the photo...
Kenna tends to use very small lens aperture over a long long exposure time, if I remember correctly, and that's a busy bridge.
Boy, was I confused. I hadn't had enough coffee yet. That was Steichen with the bridge.
an interesting idea Osso
Tony Howell
I like the way the way he looks at rocks, pebbles, patterns in the sand in an abstract way.
Just ran across a photo by Bourke-White that reminded me of this thread -
http://www.gallerym.com/work.cfm?ID=112
Hi ossobuco
This is Sonya...please get back to me...
EDIT: MODERATOR: EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED
