My favorite time period in art is the turn of the century—not this century but the last one.
Art from 1900-1960 roughly, when fine artists were diverging and designing poster art, and illustrating books. Could we call it fusion? When art came off the salon wall, but before we split off into having to decide whether you were a graphic designer or a fine artist. That period of time in there when Lautrec and Mucha were making posters and anonymous artists were illustrating catalogs and maps, and up to the mid-century when Warhol was doing the soup can silkscreens and Basquiat was writing cryptic notes on his drawings, inspired by a book of medical illustrations that his mother gave him when he was sick in bed.
I actually prefer looking at a poster than a painting. I love text on or with a painting. I love phrenology diagrams, and “maps of” this or that. The idea that THIS PIECE OF ART MIGHT INSPIRE YOU TO —- (buy, sell, change, be better, think, feel something, etc.)
Aside: the subcategory of art that I loathe is when it is patronizing. You are a dumb ignorant viewer and you need to be taught this thing. By me. And by looking at my art, you are being forced to see my point. ughhhhhh. Don’t tell me what to think.
Since 2019 I’ve been working on my skill level and comfort level with paints. Drawing has been my comfort zone, and I’ve been working to bring painting into my comfort zone. Happy to report that I reach for paints now with the same confidence and eagerness I have with drawing materials. I feel like I’m finally ready for my next step.
My next step is to work on ideas and inspiration. Based on my love for merged media of diagrams and posters as described above, I want to work on artistic infographics. I will break down smaller goals over the next few months. Here is a brainstormed list to start from:
phrenology
diagrams with arrows
recipes
gouache or watercolor with drawing on top
coloring books
lettering practice
poster design
disassociation explainer
charts and graphs
breakdowns
tell a story
explain an idea
things I think are funny
portraits of villains and heroes
fan art
fashion
paint music
Today I am inspired by
Maria Herreros, the way she draws over paint,
David Shillinglaw, whose pieces remind me of infographics, and
Brandon Campbell, who draws as if painting.
David S https://davidshillinglaw.co.uk
Maria S https://mariaherreros.com
Brandon C https://www.brandoncampbell.tv