I love the contrast between Goya's early work and his later paintings. You can tell something profoundly disturbing must have happened in his life to affect him so. I read that his wife died, but I don't know if that is true.

I like Goya's Saturn, but I was more impressed by Ruben's version:
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So different from Ruben's usual paintings (which I don't usually like).

One of my friends is an artist, and her creative process has really soured me to the current state of the profession. She throws together colours and textures, and then looks for meaning in her work. She does have some ideas before hand, but each painting is kind of a stream of consciousness.

That said, I went to 798 when I was in Beijing and it was fantastic, so there is some amazing art being made these days.

Here is a sample of my friend's work, I know some people really like it, but it isn't what I look for in art.
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ohnoitschrishansen

United States49 Posts

January 20 2011 01:22 GMT

#23

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On January 20 2011 10:10 Deadlyhazard wrote:
[image loading]

EAT COLOR

Gorgeous painting. I just experienced a "good" art

laste

Bulgaria242 Posts

January 20 2011 01:24 GMT

#24

Just thought I'd post this here since its sort of interesting and relevant.

http://www.ted.com/talks/denis_dutton_a_darwinian_theory_of_beauty.html

For the record, even after watching and thinking its awesome, I still think beauty is quite a subjective thing and theres not really something like good art nor bad art. There is however good and bad design but that I feel is no longer relevant since they are completely different things

evoL

United States7 Posts

January 20 2011 01:24 GMT

#25

Even there is no realism. I like the fact that the artists leaves to interpret what it means.

ShaperofDreams

Canada2492 Posts

January 20 2011 01:31 GMT

#26

On January 20 2011 10:10 Deadlyhazard wrote:
[image loading]

EAT COLOR

WHO DID THIS?!

GypsyBeast

Canada630 Posts

January 20 2011 01:34 GMT

#27

alot of new art is absolutly bullshit, i went to the googinhiem in new york and there was a work of "art" called fuzzy warm light it was just a fourecent light on the ground. the problem with most art is that each artist is trying to be edgyer then the last guy its getting fucking silly

Deadlyhazard

United States1177 Posts

January 20 2011 01:45 GMT

#28

On January 20 2011 10:31 ShaperofDreams wrote:

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WHO DID THIS?!

http://leonidafremov.deviantart.com/gallery/

He uploads some of his stuff on deviant art occasionally, he's an artist from I believe Israel who's now living in Florida. He's a master of color and using the palette knife. He even has a Youtube video up of him doing a painting, it's INCREDIBLE. I don't know how he manages to work saturated colors like he does, when I try it comes out like crap! Hes a beast!

whiteLotus

1833 Posts

January 20 2011 01:46 GMT

#29

On January 20 2011 10:31 ShaperofDreams wrote:

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WHO DID THIS?!

^ this is so freaking good, realy would like to have this painting on my wall :S

Deadlyhazard

United States1177 Posts

January 20 2011 01:53 GMT

#30

I think we should start a thread about painting in general rather than post our favorites in this one

formthehead

United States81 Posts

January 20 2011 02:11 GMT

#31

Okay, so this art thing, let me explain.

(I went to the Cooper Union school of art in NYC, which is a tuition-free school that's one of the most competitive art schools in the world. That'll be my "I'm 2700 diamond!" preamble to lend me credibility)

Art (by my own definition, of course) is any object that's supposed to represent an abstract idea, and not just itself. You'll notice that this encompasses pretty much anything anybody calls art or otherwise assigns a secondary meaning to. All you have to do to make art is call it art.

This sounds very counter-intuitive for most people, because they are accustomed to the idea that art is a higher form of expression, or that there's some kind of mastery or genius involved. Art historians and art critics are responsible for that part of the equation; they reinforce the idea of art as a tradition that is culturally and historically significant. When you call something art, it is put in context of everything that has ever been considered art, and others who are part of that culture can choose to elevate it or expand upon it.

Art as a label does not mean "good" or "creative", and art as a concept is just a form of expression with a lot of tradition (that the artist may or may not agree with, but always acknowledges). It seems a bit redundant to say it, but "good art" is just a collection of opinions... nobody has to give a fuck.

Anyways, a good way to appreciate or "understand" art is to read up on the history around it: what was happening in the artist's country at the time, what kind of philosophy was emerging, what books were written, etc. Taking in art as a purely visual experience is not a good idea, because chances are they were made in a different era with a dramatically different cultural climate, and you probably possess a much different visual and emotional "vocabulary" than the artist.

TL;DR

If actual art was starcraft 2, then what people call "art" would be the SC2 strategy forum. Just because stuff gets posted doesn't mean that it's of any value to you. Go out and get your own ideas.

Synapze

Canada563 Posts

January 20 2011 02:25 GMT

#32

On January 20 2011 10:46 whiteLotus wrote:

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^ this is so freaking good, realy would like to have this painting on my wall :S

I am so blown away, I might buy one of those guys paintings.

nitram

Canada5412 Posts

January 20 2011 03:31 GMT

#33

Zdzislaw Beksinski
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WniO

United States2706 Posts

January 20 2011 03:38 GMT

#34

art is completely subjective. however some pieces are looked back on as greats because they were innovative of the time or a masterpiece from an aritst. @ the picture with the 4 girls, i think its unbalanced towards the left and its rather distracting, but thats just me =D

buickskylark

Canada664 Posts

January 20 2011 03:52 GMT

#35

One of my favorite pieces of all time:
[image loading]

John Singer Sargent was amazing with watercolors. He could do anything with a brush.

Another favorite artist:
John Blockley
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And though I don't think this artist is technically as good as the others, he's got a way of building a story within a picture.

Edward Hopper
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Unfortunately I found myself hard to appreciate art anymore because of what Gypsybeast said. Too many people calling themselves 'artists'.

KevinIX

United States2472 Posts

January 20 2011 03:57 GMT

#36

On January 20 2011 10:10 Deadlyhazard wrote:
[image loading]

EAT COLOR

Wow. That's actually pretty sweet.

MrMotionPicture

United States4327 Posts

January 20 2011 03:59 GMT

#37

MC Escher is brilliant. I love his work
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And I have always adored this painting
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Souma

2nd Worst City in CA8938 Posts

January 20 2011 04:23 GMT

#38

On January 20 2011 12:57 KevinIX wrote:

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Wow. That's actually pretty sweet.

I wish I had that painting...

Gleve

United States206 Posts

January 20 2011 04:37 GMT

#39

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On January 20 2011 10:10 Deadlyhazard wrote:
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EAT COLOR

I really like that painting. Very vibrant! I like how the lights reflect on the wet pavement.

My Friends brother paints, I liked them maybe you will too?

Landscape
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Self portrait
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Cloud

Sexico5880 Posts

January 20 2011 04:38 GMT

#40

The Mona Lisa is a painting with amazing technique and a lot of subjective themes. You most likely have to try painting to really appreciate how Leonardo is one of the painters with the best technique in the history of art. If you have never tried painting before, if you have never read on art history then it's incredulous to ask of you to appreciate the genre the way everyone says you should. If you don't dwell into the subject then it's just telling you it's good the way vegetables are good.

Saying "the Mona Lisa looks average to me" is like saying Beethoven sounds like average classical music to me.

Oh and as a side note. Art is a concept that has changed dramatically over time. Until only recently art meant technique, the application of knowledge (science). Much the same difference between science and engineering today.