Art.....

[Morley]

Markk, since you're loving on Grant Wood...



...I have to laugh about how how much he continues to influence art today.

[Morley]

Thomas Hart Benton....

Good choice. I was waiting for you to get to Benton. I've learned to love him.

Looking at his work, you'd would never guess that he'd go on to mentor Jackson Pollock, would you?

[Markk]

Thomas Hart Benton....

Good choice. I was waiting for you to get to Benton. I've learned to love him.

Looking at his work, you'd would never guess that he'd go on to mentor Jackson Pollock, would you?

I didn't know that, thanks. I just googled it and this is the 18 year old Jackson, posing for Benton who was his teacher.

[huckelberry]

Thomas Hart Benton....

Good choice. I was waiting for you to get to Benton. I've learned to love him.

Looking at his work, you'd would never guess that he'd go on to mentor Jackson Pollock, would you?

I start a look at Benton and feel expectant hope. It always seems disappointing. I could hope to see something of the story and sound Dylan has chased. Dylan's painting efforts show less trained skill than Benton but might catch the sound a little more. There may be some times when I can see past Benton's irritating swoopy rhythms and standard characters to a bit of interesting story, or maybe even those moments disappoint.

For a few years Pollock took those rhythms to places of beauty. I find myself seeing a Pollock painting inside or behind the Benton painting above.

[Morley]

I didn't know that, thanks. I just googled it and this is the 18 year old Jackson, posing for Benton who was his teacher.

I hadn't known this, Markk. Beautiful example.

[Morley]

Good choice. I was waiting you to get to Benton. I've learned to love him.

Looking at his work, you'd would never guess that he'd go on to mentor Jackson Pollock, would you?

I start a look at Benton and feel expectant hope. It always seems disappointing. I could hope to see something of the story and sound Dylan has chased. Dylan's painting efforts show less trained skill than Benton but might catch the sound a little more. There may be some times when I can see past Benton's irritating swoopy rhythms and standard characters to a bit of interesting story, or maybe even those moments disappoint.

For a few years Pollock took those rhythms to places of beauty. I find myself seeing a Pollock painting inside or behind the Benton painting above.

Huck:

Well said. I hadn't thought of seeing Pollock's work in Thomas Hart Benton, but can can see it now that you mention it.

What you call Benton's swoopy rhythm kind of gets to me, too. The turning point to liking Benton for me was learning to appreciate murals as a medium. I think this is necessary because Thomas Hart Benton is--even when he's painting something else--primarily a muralist. You won't be surprised to find out that it was your old buddy, Diego Rivera, who was my gateway drug to the appreciation of murals. Many would disagree, but I think that 75% of all art is political. But, with murals, it's closer to 100%. And it's the sometimes covert political messaging that's conveyed in Benton's WPA* work that I love the most about his art.

By the way, the WPA showed what can happen when artists get some funding. Some of my favorite painters came out of the program: folks like Alice Neel and Jacob Lawrence.

Jacob Lawrence, The Migration of the Negro Panel no. 57, (1940–1941).

I'm talking too much. Sometimes I get a little too pedantic. I'll try to step back a bit.

*For Shades: Works Progress Administration

[Dr. Shades]

Why did you mention me in the same post as that painting? It is repulsive and disgusting.

Well, you have to admit that as far as repulsive and disgusting art goes, it’s not that bad.

No, I admit no such thing. It sucks.

So, why mention me in the same post as such a painting?

[Markk]

I didn't know that, thanks. I just googled it and this is the 18 year old Jackson, posing for Benton who was his teacher.

I hadn't known this, Markk. Beautiful example.

I looked through Jackson's catalog, and Benton's, and you are correct, I never would have guessed. Like Kincaid and Wessels I can only guess that maybe it is more about confidence and maybe bringing out the "fill in the blank," what ever that is.

[edit]...I just read your comments to Huck about seeing the Jackson's influence of Benton's in his work. I don't see it...lol yet?

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?

[Morley]

I took a art class in community college out of high school hoping to get a easy "A". I had no idea it was a commitment. The teacher basically said I was a lazy turd, which I was, so I dropped the class. But in the first day of class we had to watch the movie "The Red Balloon," and after it was over, the teacher asked each one of us how we felt. People were giving emotional answers, and some even had tears. When it came to me, I can't remember exactly what I said, but I can guarantee it was something lame; I was a dumb jock. But now I get what the the teacher was doing, he was trying to draw what ever that "feel in the blank is," out of us.

https://youtu.be/_TPNVw_KsY8?t=26

For what it's worth, I hate that movie. I've never been sure what it's supposed to accomplish as regards art appreciation. Having to view it would have had me running the other way.

[Markk]

I took a art class in community college out of high school hoping to get a easy "A". I had no idea it was a commitment. The teacher basically said I was a lazy turd, which I was, so I dropped the class. But in the first day of class we had to watch the movie "The Red Balloon," and after it was over, the teacher asked each one of us how we felt. People were giving emotional answers, and some even had tears. When it came to me, I can't remember exactly what I said, but I can guarantee it was something lame; I was a dumb jock. But now I get what the the teacher was doing, he was trying to draw what ever that "feel in the blank is," out of us.

https://youtu.be/_TPNVw_KsY8?t=26

For what it's worth, I hate that movie. I've never been sure what it's supposed to accomplish as regards art appreciation. Having to view it would have had me running the other way.

Lol, I get it.

I think that, for me, is that there is no right answer, and that it is suppose to help you look at things in different ways and perspectives. When I re-watched it years and years later...lol, I was inadvertently forcing myself for the right answer...in the end I came up with my current answer. I don't know if I hate the movie, but I will never watch it again, happily, especially the end.

I am going to post this post, and for kicks google what the meaning is, or read comments and lets see what we come up with. I'll post them.