1

Interesting figure study, hard to say more than that about it. Oh, and you left a STRONG tag or something open, 'cuz the whole page is in boldface.

Cheers,
PGE

2

I guess if I were a member of the aesthete elite, I could somehow find in “Figure Study II” a gravely profound message of existential angst.

But really, this is not particularly impressive as figure painting goes. It strikes me as rather mediocre, in an undergraduate-art-student sort of way . Surely, Joe, you can find something better?
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3

i hate this picture...it is so dark and depressing. how in the world does this make anyone feel better after viewing it? at least a Kincade doesn't put anyone into dispare after looking at his pictures...

4

Picture?

5

Call this Figure Study - "Despair."

Quite in line with this thought:

"A culture that emphasizes 'pessimism and despair' will produce art that reflects that worldview, and rightly so..."

And:

"Art is not created in a vacuum; it is always a response, sometimes slightly ahead, sometimes slightly behind, but never without context. If we study a culture's art, we can begin to understand its people, for our art is a reflection of who we are..."

[http://www.relevantmagazine.com/article.php?sid=3980]

6

Its rather depressing, though interesting. It makes you wonder if this is a view of man symbolizing all of mankind or it is just the view of a certain man..

7

Oengus, how about pointing us to your favorite artist(s)? Why should Joe have to do all the work? :)

8

Jim Anderson: “how about pointing us to your favorite artist(s)?”

Fair question. Just for starters, I could recommend places like ArtMagick and The Art Renewal Center.

9

My title: "Birth of Adam"

10

I guess "despair" is in the eye of the beholder. Before I read the comments I saw a figure being born our of darkness.

Maybe I got it wrong but I like my theory better.

11

I find this quite a bit *less* depressing than a Kinkade, phyllis. You need to be less blatantly sentimental in your categories.

This is just unfinished, a study, trying to find anything very meaningful in it is like reading the drafts instead of the poem. The finished work is necessary to understanding the study, and even publishing the study like it's a work of its own don't make it so . . . this just feels like it's not got a coherent focus, not got a completed vision, it's not there yet. There may be a better painting ready by now . . . ?

Cheers,
PGE

12

I'm not understanding this series.

I thought, originally, it was about art that reflected Christian themes; then I thought it was about art by Christian artists. After the last couple of entries, I can't understand what the theme is at all.

Can you re-explain it, Joe?

13

Phyllis -

Since when does good art have to make you feel better?

At least this painting makes you feel something. I'd say it's effective art.

14

dear phil...art should make you feel better, or better not have any in your home...depression will reign instead of good thoughts...and satan will get his foot in your door easier..

15

Kevin T. Keith: “After the last couple of entries, I can’t understand what the theme is at all.”

Yeah. I lost track of the theme too. Was it somehow about art not needing to have any overtly or patently obvious “religious subject matter” in order to be “really” xtian because what really matters is that xtians be very sincere about doing “fine arts” in a aesthetically astute and accomplished manner? Or something like that, I guess.

It’s not that I object to all that. I like art too, regardless of who’s creating it, and I like to have it around. I just don’t make it the sine qua non that some people do (not that I am saying Joe does).

Anyhow, the “Figure Study II” looks like an dashed-off exercise picked off the floor during a hectic session in a undergraduate figure drawing class (which by the way, was a course I took in college at one time, back in days of yore).

16

dear phil...art should make you feel better

That reminds me of my Leninist friends at college, who thought art should serve the Party. I prefer to evaluate art on its formal qualities (in regards to which this one is great) and whether it's moving (which this one is). Art is its own end, and should be evaluated accordingly.

17

That is an incredbily haunting image. You have a heck of an eye, Joe.

18

Dear Phyllis,

Do you believe that one can be inspired by something that doesn't make one feel good?

Can one be challeneged and moved by something unpleasant?

Isn't part of good art something that moves you?