Art Classes - Art Smart Manila
(02)7616-0305 | 0917-8784766
artsmartphilippines@gmail.com
  • About Art Smart
  • The Mentor
  • Portfolio
  • Activities
  • Rates & Schedule
  • Blog
  • Call or text us at 0917-8784766, 0928-1515353, or 02-76160305
  • Discounts
  • Testimonials
  • Online Art Classes
  • Online Art Classes
  • Untitled

Expressionism: In a Nutshell

1/26/2016

0 Comments

 
Have you ever felt like expressing your emotions through art? While you can express what you are currently feeling with words, you just feel it better and easier to release what you feel through painting. Without being completely conscious about it, you might be an advocate of an art movement called Expressionism. 
Picture
Technically an artistic style, Expressionism is when an artist depicts not objective reality, but purely subjective emotions and responses that certain objects in the environment arouse within him. More often than not, an Expressionist uses techniques, such as distortion and exaggeration in order to convey feelings and emotions. They also employ swirling, exaggerated brushstrokes, and swaying as a reaction to the anxieties they feel towards the world.

Expressionism was one of the main currents of art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has its roots mainly in Germany and Austria. As it became popular in the 1905, the Expressionists moved to the cities and started forming groups such as The Bride and The Blue Rider. There, they shared studios, exhibited their art works and published their works.

Most historians say that Expressionism was a response to another art movement called Impressionism. And if you recall what we've talked about, Impressionism is all about conveying what the eyes can see through loosened brushwork and light color palettes. Impressionists wanted to capture the passage of time, the changes in the environment, and other shifts in nature.
Picture
Rehe im Walde (Deer in Woods), 1914, by Franz Marc
All these are contrasted by Expressionism wherein the elements are often jarring, violent and very spontaneous. Even the use of colors is very different. It is notable by its intensity, brightness, and boldness.

For an Expressionist, the goal is to illustrate the world how it is felt, not by how it looked on the surface. This is the reason why if you will see Expressionist Art, it is often emotionally charged, harsh, and feels quite agitated.
​
Have you seen this artwork?
Picture
This is The Scream by Edvard Munch. He painted this in 1983. Some consider The Scream as the most important art of Expressionism. It is said that this painting depicts the battle between the individual, the anxiety and alienation felt with the society he or she belongs to.
​
And although you are more likely to associate Vincent Van Gogh with his Starry Starry Night painting, his painting, Sunflowers in 1888 is also an example of Expressionist art. His brushwork and his use of expressive colors paved the way for colors, in general, to be used as an emotional instrument.
Picture
To paint like an Expressionist, start with the colors you will use. Try to limit your colors to five - one light, one medium, one dark, and two tones in between. Paint according to tone and use as much swirls, swaying, and movement as you can. Check out works from Edvard Munch, Vincent Van Gogh, and other notable Expressionist artists, such as Franz Marc, Otto Dix, and Emil Nolde, too for inspiration!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    September 2022
    March 2022
    October 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    July 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.