Art.....

[Morley]

This is by John Bramblitt. He lost his sight at the age of 30, then started painting. Simply fascinating.



https://mymodernmet.com/john-bramblitt-blind-painter/

This one is great. I love the depth. The sky, while certainly his own, immediately reminded me of Van Gogh. The lights are so bright and just jump off the canvass. Good stuff.

"A special night"

I love how he did the reflection of the couple.

Thank you for posting these, Markk. Unfortunately, I think you've inadvertently argued my point for me. These have the all the aesthetic quality that's indicative of Dafen Chinese factory paintings.



In their repetition of the same couple-with-umbrella theme, they have the look of the generic decorative art found on motel walls, and sold in stores like Target and TJ Maxx.

China produces a boatload of generic oil paintings that, at least to me, look a lot like Bramblitt's work.

Factory painting in Dafen, Shenzhen Provence, China:

https://medium.com/lean-canvas-takedown ... 097326b303

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-edi ... e-jeopardy

Of course, that doesn't mean that Bramblitt's work is not 'good art' or that it's not enjoyable. Or that factory painting is not 'good art' or enjoyable. Everyone to their own taste.

And a hearty toast to differing tastes that are (hopefully) ever evolving.

[Markk]

Morley,

I disagree of course. Comparing original art, from one's own creative style, with copying others is different in my opinion. We could say the same thing about many artists who for lack of better words, "repeat their style." How many cans of soup did Warhol paint?



Or Leonardo da Vinci angels with wings....

I appreciate your thought behind the umbrellas though, at first I thought about that. I also thought that his figures looked like an architectural rendering on a plan meant for a sales pitch for a plaza of sorts to a potential client. And as in an architectural rendering Bramblitt tended to "tunnel" the painting to a centered or chosen "vanishing point." Architects do this mechanically all the time; and I see this in the three drawings from Bramblitt that I chose. But I think, in my opinion, he did this maybe more so because he is blind and it is kind of a natural way of "organizing" his canvass with order. But who knows for sure?



The reason I was drawn to these drawings was first the lights, I simply find the way he uses his colors to create an atmosphere of a quiet and secluded tranquility.

Secondly his colors....for me it all works. It is obviously raining in these photos and the lights, reflections, and color support that, and the umbrellas for me are important and fitting to support that feeling.

Bramblitt has other paintings, some I care for some I don't, and some are Warhol like of celebrities, which normally is not my thing....but again, these three really work for me.

Again I get he may over use the umbrella for you, but I don't think it is fair to compare it to the China production markets....

[huckelberry]

Markk, I get how he catches your curiosity. Projecting imagine by feel is an interesting idea. I can see how the people walking is a simple enough form it can be draw by feel. I saw some portrait examples that were clearly photo based and would have some mechanical transfer (I can only assume).

About glowing color the transition, white with touch of yellow to yellow, orange to red to a cooler red contrasted to darker blue and black is the surest glow with light method. It might be remembered that online you see an image of pure projected light, always more light and glowing than a painting.

Even so, the idea of a blind person painting is interesting even if not my favorite paintings.

[Morley]

How many cans of soup did Warhol paint?

Or Leonardo da Vinci angels with wings....

Ha! Leonardo da Vinci wasn't that big on angels. And of the four he painted, only two had wings.

[Markk]

Markk, I get how he catches your curiosity. Projecting imagine by feel is an interesting idea. I can see how the people walking is a simple enough form it can be draw by feel. I saw some portrait examples that were clearly photo based and would have some mechanical transfer (I can only assume).

About glowing color the transition, white with touch of yellow to yellow, orange to red to a cooler red contrasted to darker blue and black is the surest glow with light method. It might be remembered that online you see an image of pure projected light, always more light and glowing than a painting.

Even so, the idea of a blind person painting is interesting even if not my favorite paintings.

Thanks, I want to try and create a light like that. I've tried it before with a gesso painted canvas, and whipping colors to create sunlight through a dead forest with a some success, with acrylic, ala Bob Ross. I have a work friend that is a restoration artisan by profession and does it with oils and it is awesome....I tried it and it was a mess, literally. I had no idea what I was doing.

In this video he says when he hears music, he see colors. I find that fascinating. I read something years ago about how differently people "think." Some think with numbers, while others think with images, letters, and some with music and texture, and varying mixtures of. The article I was reading said that people with Down Syndrome think in colors. I don't understand that, or even know if it is true, but it is fun to try to figure it out.

I am an image guy for sure. I deal with problem solving construction issues everyday, it is part my job, and I am at my best with a sketch pad explaining to my guys how to mitigate a problem like a structural connection. It is not so much for them as much as it is for me, to explain what I see in my brain in mitigating a solution.

It is interesting and cool how John hears music in colors, and it seems like he was saying each note has a different color....again I find this all fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrXCYJRZ0Kk

[Markk]

How many cans of soup did Warhol paint?

Or Leonardo da Vinci angels with wings....

Ha! Leonardo da Vinci wasn't that big on angels. And of the four he painted, only two had wings.

Okay then I was wrong, but I hope you understood my point. I'm sorry I was wrong about Leonardo. I get you don't care for Bramblitt's style, I respect that. It's okay.

[Morley]

Ha! Leonardo da Vinci wasn't that big on angels. And of the four he painted, only two had wings.

Okay then I was wrong, but I hope you understood my point. I'm sorry I was wrong about Leonardo. I get you don't care for Bramblitt's style, I respect that. It's okay.

Oh, I do indeed. And I appreciate that you take the time and make the effort to walk us through your thought process and to explain the 'why' about what you like. You approach this subject with an honesty that's sometimes lacking in your political arguments--to the extent that I enjoy reading your ideas about art and think you have some legitimate points. Thank you, Markk.

Not being formally trained or knowing what that remotely means and entails; is being trained about mechanics and things like colors....and suggestions without trying to change or "break" the pupil's natural style?

It used to be that learning to paint or sculpt academically meant that you largely imitated the prevailing style of the time. For better or worse (and thanks to folks like the afore mentioned Joseph Beuys), that all changed. I have mixed feelings about it.

[Morley]

Markk, I get how he catches your curiosity. Projecting imagine by feel is an interesting idea. I can see how the people walking is a simple enough form it can be draw by feel. I saw some portrait examples that were clearly photo based and would have some mechanical transfer (I can only assume).

About glowing color the transition, white with touch of yellow to yellow, orange to red to a cooler red contrasted to darker blue and black is the surest glow with light method. It might be remembered that online you see an image of pure projected light, always more light and glowing than a painting.

Even so, the idea of a blind person painting is interesting even if not my favorite paintings.

Well done.

[Markk]

Markk, I get how he catches your curiosity. Projecting imagine by feel is an interesting idea. I can see how the people walking is a simple enough form it can be draw by feel. I saw some portrait examples that were clearly photo based and would have some mechanical transfer (I can only assume).

About glowing color the transition, white with touch of yellow to yellow, orange to red to a cooler red contrasted to darker blue and black is the surest glow with light method. It might be remembered that online you see an image of pure projected light, always more light and glowing than a painting.

Even so, the idea of a blind person painting is interesting even if not my favorite paintings.

If you watched the video by Bramblitt, he says that he basically plans out his painting with his outlines. Which got me thinking of how I approach a painting. Very generally I know what I want to paint, then I just kind of start, and I never really know where it is going to end up.

So when you paint or sculpt....how much do you plan ahead before you start? Do you see the end, before you start?

In my wood working which I am far more proficient at, it is not even close, when I make a mistake I almost always know how to fix it or alter the piece in a better way in regard to the final outcome....do you find that the same in your art? Some of my coolest looks in my creative wood working come from a modified mistake.

Along this line of thought....

I noticed this is one of Bramblitt's pieces....check out the lady's nose. It does not fit, and I have no idea whether he knows it does not fit, but for me it works...Lol, I think.

[huckelberry]

So when you paint or sculpt....how much do you plan ahead before you start? Do you see the end, before you start?

In my wood working which I am far more proficient at, it is not even close, when I make a mistake I almost always know how to fix it or alter the piece in a better way in regard to the final outcome....do you find that the same in your art? Some of my coolest looks in my creative wood working come from a modified mistake.

Along this line of thought....

I noticed this is one of Bramblitt's pieces....check out the lady's nose. It does not fit, and I have no idea whether he knows it does not fit, but for me it works...Lol, I think.

Markk,

I think there is a wide range of approaches to preparing. One might be general strategy and direction letting the result take shape over time. A specific idea might start but need adjustment. Maybe the adjustment is a better idea than the start. There can be a life of its own in the process as you point out. On the other hand, there are certainly artworks which started with a carefully worked complete plan and were completed according to plan.