Loving Hans Hofmann: Painter, Pioneering Teacher To Abstract Expressionists, Giant of 20th C. Art

[lunatica]

1. I love these!

I went through an abstract expressionism period which really stretched my imagination and my emotions, and found out that was basically what it’s all about.

At least in my case what would happen once I started the painting was that it was what was on the canvas that made demands of me. You don’t paint things or objects or portraits. You paint motion, stillness, balance, brush strokes, and color, color, color! Everything on the canvas relates to everything else and how you apply it.

I feel that when you look at abstract expressionism, or any abstract piece of art you need to look at how it’s done and find the things I list in the previous paragraph and don’t forget the details. The canvas demanded they should be there.

I don’t see anything ugly in those paintings, but I do see an abandonment to the demands of the canvas.