Artists in the world of landscape painting depict natural scenes such as mountains, rivers, forests or fields – they strive to convey the atmosphere and beauty of the surrounding world, evoking certain emotions and associations in the viewer. The main character, as you guessed, is pristine nature or nature transformed by man. Other characters like people, animals, birds can be in an oil painting, but only as a secondary role, and should be as an addition – for example, a mountain landscape that shows people climbing while enjoying the light wind blowing at them and the enchanting views with mountain ranges and forests all around.
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The genre of landscapes itself, compared to other paintings, is very young, and for centuries, images of nature were presented only as the habitat of characters, so religion and the church contributed to this. For example, landscapes were the background for icons and altar paintings, and later they reached everyday scenes where there were crowds of people and cities or nature became the background. Artists also painted portraits and plot scenes where the main character was people, and nature was the background, like an appendage.
Gradually, with the development of science and painting, artists gradually moved to study experimental knowledge of linear and aerial perspective, proportionality, and the best objects for practice were landscapes. It can be said that the overall composition was the color and relief of the image, natural vistas became at first, as an equal member of the composition. And as a consequence of these teachings for artists, landscape painting was transformed into an independent genre – for a long period of time, landscapes were represented as generalized and idealized. The main achievement that occurred was that artists realized the meaning of the word “landscapes” – the country or, more simply, the surrounding area. So, images of specific areas and cities began to appear on canvases; for example, let’s look at a European artist with the title “City center” – in this painting you can see a city square with architectural structures and fountains, and people walking along it.
The composition of the painting depicts a busy city square surrounded by buildings in traditional European architecture, in the center there is a fountain, around which city residents and horses walk. The architecture looks European, and these characteristic elements are high roofs with tiles, decorative facades and large windows – thereby emphasizing the historical value and cultural heritage of the city. In addition to architecture, the painting depicts the life of the city – people of different social classes, engaged in various activities – trade, transportation of goods and a banal walk through the center of the square. This creates a feeling of dynamics and liveliness in the painting, thereby emphasizing the activity and variety of everyday life – city life.
An oil painting by a European artist conveys a sense of time gone by and it is all thanks to details such as the clothing of the characters, the architecture and the overall style of the image. Everything together immerses the viewer in the atmosphere of the past and allows you to feel the spirit of that era, albeit through the canvas. The main idea that the artist laid down for this painting is to convey the feelings of lively city life, and to show what the historical value of the architectural heritage is in front of us. The artist when painting the landscape sought to show not only the beauty and harmony of the urban environment, but also emphasized the diversity of everyday life that people have. The artist’s work serves as a reminder – cities and their architecture are not only functional in terms of the importance of the structure, but are also historically significant; the culture of the city, which is shaped by our society and our identity.
As noted, landscape works by European masters become examples of ideal aesthetic and artistic values, such as the beauty of nature or urban motifs that convey the spirit of history. What can we say that there is a direction that easily gave another step towards the development of landscapes? So, with the advent of the 17th-18th centuries, impressionist artists began to use landscapes, and this became the culminating moment for the development of the genre, although its full formation began only at the end of the 19th century.
Let’s look at the example of an oil painting by artist Ivanyuk called “Afternoon”, which is made in the style of impressionism and using thick strokes and bright colors, which conveys the atmosphere of wildlife and the dynamics of rural life. The composition of the painting consists of a landscape with trees and grazing cows – it focuses on the central elements of nature, emphasizing their interconnection and harmony. The artist depicts calm moments of rural life, where cows simply graze in the meadow – this adds even more meaning to convey that man and nature are one; a feeling of silence and tranquility from city life, while bright colors and energetic brushstrokes create a feeling of joy and admiration over nature.
Abstract Artist Paintings – Feelings and Emotions
We move smoothly to abstraction – a genre in which visual reality fades into the background, and associations come to the fore – the presentation of the plot appears through color, shapes and signs. Generally speaking, abstraction is the process of drawing objects from the real world so that the viewer perceives them not as specific objects, but as a combination of emotions, moods and ideas laid down by the author. The artist’s task in abstraction is to convey the essence and sensations without being tied to real forms and proportions of objects – the viewer should be able to interpret the work of art as his personal experience and inner feelings tell him. At any moment, artists, when writing their abstraction, can replace an object with its image or model, for example, through geometry to depict part of the body of a fish and part of a bird, and so that a person can interpret it exactly as he sees and imagines it.
To consolidate what we have read, let’s look at the oil painting by the artist Tarabanov with the title “Autumn city” – it is made in the style of abstractionism and in the art nouveau genre; represents a multi-plot and symbolic image. In the foreground are architectural elements and above them the figure of a woman, which harmoniously combines with urban and natural motifs. The composition of the painting and its elements are smoothly woven into each other, for example, the figure of a woman in a hat and flowers, which seems to be higher than the small town surrounding nature. Notice how the architecture and plants intertwine with the woman’s figure, creating such a strong feeling that she is one; if you go deeper, the woman symbolizes motherhood and care – we can say that for her this is her home, where her family lives.
Abstract elements are naturally present in the painting, and create a free interpretation for each viewer – let’s ask ourselves, what emotions and associations do they evoke in you? The work of the artist Tarabanov invites the viewer to think about how close the connection between man and nature can be; thereby inviting you to see the beauty with your own eyes in their unity, and despite the urban developments – these sensations only intensify.
Let’s figure it out further, what other types of abstraction are there? Abstraction can be divided into many types and directions, and here we will examine only six of these types:
1) An abstraction that depicts motifs with alternating patterns and spirals is curvilinear. In the era when Celtic culture was developed, they gave a second wind to curvilinear abstraction, making patterns complex and intricate. To a large extent, where you could pay attention to this type of abstraction, it became the basis for Islamic art – the depiction of curves and symbols that carry a certain meaning.
2) Light abstraction – this painting gives mainly to light and acts as the main tool for separating the work from reality. In their paintings, artists seem to dissolve objects in paint, making them highly contrasting and expressive, for example, in front of you is a blue wavy line. Years go by and this type of abstraction developed in large steps, and over time it began to be called lyrical abstraction – the transfer of emotions and feelings through lines of paint.
3) Geometric abstraction – is one of the intellectual types of art and is characterized by the fact that artists in their paintings have to reject spatial perspective and all attention is paid to two-dimensional aspects. This type is also called non-objective art and predominates in geometric images and shapes, for example, squares, triangles, circles.
4) Artists began to experiment and combine styles that included elements of surrealism, naturalism, organic abstraction and threw them into one pot – they called it emotional abstraction. The realization of naturalism occurs through colors and shapes, and there is no need to compare it with geometric abstraction – it is very different. If through geometry we represented abstraction through the foundations of anti-nature, then the emotional, on the contrary, uses nature, only describes it in a very abstract way.
5) “One night the artists came after the bar and began to paint…” – this is how one can describe the characteristic features of gestural abstraction – an intermittent manner of applying paint to the canvas. When painting an oil painting, special attention is paid to the application of strokes – the faster and looser the artist applies, the more obvious the manifestation of gestures.
6) Minimalism in abstraction is considered as avant-garde art, which is devoid of all external images and associations. Roughly speaking, what the viewer sees in the painting and it no longer has any meaning; often takes a geometric form and is dominated by structure. The focus is on simplicity and purity of lines and shapes, and there will be a largely monochrome color scheme; in minimalism, voids and spatial relationships and the material from which the work is made are important. When painting a painting, artists strive to cleanse the work as much as possible from all unnecessary things, leaving only the intended elements.
Now we have dealt with landscape and abstract genres in painting, and it’s time to move on to the artists who represent these directions. We selected 3 artists each – we will analyze them, and figure out what idea he put into his painting.
Landscape Artists Paintings – Depths and Homeliness
Let’s start with an epic painting by the artist Litvinov called “17th century ships” – depicting a naval battle with sailing ships, thereby conveying an atmosphere of drama and tension. The majority of the composition is occupied by ships, which creates a feeling of the greatness and power of the navy. And the artist was faced with the task of depicting a naval battle between two ships so that the viewer would feel the dynamics and drama of the moment. Every detail in the painting is carefully drawn: from the stretched sails to the sailors; in the foreground there are waves and a boat with people, which already expands the horizons of tension. Litvinov conveyed dynamics and movement well – thick strokes and the use of bright contrasting colors create the energy of movement; the ships are tilted, the sails are fluttering in the wind, and the waves are raging around them – these are the details that create realism for the painting. The color palette that was chosen for this painting helps to convey the mood of the battle well – the fury of the sea elements with a touch of drama.
For such a large-scale and epic painting, great efforts will be required to convey the desired effects of shadows and light – the artist coped with this task perfectly. Light reflections on the sails and hulls of ships – thereby emphasizing their shapes and details, making the sensations of the battle scene more tangible. The details of the ships, the clothing of the sailors and the style of the image seem to create before us an authentic historical atmosphere of the moment. The main idea of this painting is to convey a sense of power, drama and heroism of sea battles – the artist sought to show the greatness and danger of the sea elements through the storm. The artist also showed on canvas such character traits as the courage and determination of the people who participate in the battle. The painting reminds the viewer how important fortitude and the will to win in extreme situations are – how it historically conveys and shapes our perception of courage. Any danger that confronts a person should motivate him to be determined to overcome all difficulties, as one character said in the movie Batman: “Why do people fall? To learn how to rise.”
The next oil painting by artist Olesia Osnach with the title “Carpathian Courtyard” depicts a rural landscape and conveys the atmosphere of peace of village life. The composition of the painting consists of various elements – in front of us is a rural yard in which there are: a haystack, a wooden fence, chickens, a tree with fallen yellow leaves and several houses in the background. Looking at the painting, it conveys those same memories from village life – the viewer is confronted with feelings of comfort and simplicity; Even though the painting depicts autumn, it creates a warm and calm atmosphere through soft natural shades of green, yellow, brown, and blue.
The artist had a difficult task – to convey a quiet, calm atmosphere and at the same time add liveliness and dynamics, so the use of the play of light and shadow adds depth and realism to the painting, and the light reflections on the trees, houses and grass create the feeling of a sunny day. And for greater liveliness and dynamics, chickens were depicted – with what detail their feathers were drawn; the detailing in her painting can be called outstanding for several reasons – first, careful study of the texture of hay and wood; second – although the background usually makes it blurry, here, the houses are clearly visible, even if you take it apart and disassemble it under a microscope. The main idea of this painting is to convey a feeling of peace, simple rural life away from the noisy city. The artist strives to show in her painting both natural and man-made elements that can be combined together – creating a cozy and peaceful space for every person to live. The painting reminds and emphasizes that happiness can be found in the simplest and most ordinary things that surround us every day, as Ben Affleck’s character from the movie Gone Girl said: “Go outside and you will feel everything.”
On the same topic, we will consider only the European artist Thomas J.H. with the title of his painting “Estate road” – depicts an idyllic rural landscape that is very filled with tranquility and evokes reflection for every viewer. The composition of the painting consists of a vast field with a farmhouse in the distance – the surrounding mountains in the background. The road leads the viewer’s eye deeper into the composition, creating a sense of subtle perspective and which divides the painting into two parts. In the foreground are workers who are busy with agricultural work and only adds vitality to the scene to the painting. The artist used soft and natural shades of green, brown, blue and yellow to create a warm and soothing atmosphere; and through light and shadows, the painting is given depth and volume.
There is a noticeable emphasis on realism and detail in objects such as grass, trees, buildings and human figures – it seems that this is just a random photograph taken. People working in the fields symbolize labor and care for the land and, simply, traditional rural values. The main idea that the artist is trying to convey is the feelings of harmony, peace and beauty of rural life, which can bring joy; sought to show how nature and human activity can coexist together while creating a cozy corner. Like the previous painting in the analysis, here there is also an emphasis on the importance of appreciating the simple joys and satisfaction from everyday activities in the countryside. In a world of great wanderings, one stumbles upon a moment of calm and tranquility – just like the mood of this painting.
Abstract Artists Painting – Flows of Thoughts and Energy
In the genre of abstraction, let’s start with the artist Sergey Voichenko with the title “Introversion” – the painting is a complex and multi-layered composition in which various shapes and colors are intertwined. Contains several central elements – two human faces, which are partially hidden and woven into abstract shapes and lines. The faces in the abstract painting are depicted without eyes, which can symbolize how rich a person’s inner world and his emotions can be. The color palette conveyed by the artist is unique – the use of the following colors: yellow, blue, red and green – creates a rather bold composition; contrasts between warm and cold add depth and energy to the painting. The composition contains various geometric shapes – triangles, circles, squares – these elements create structure and order in abstract painting.
The artist, in his abstraction, has depicted faces that are partially hidden and deformed – may symbolize the various human personalities that are hidden beneath the surface – the viewing effect remains with a hint of mystery and intrigue. The main idea of this painting is to convey complex emotions and inner experiences through abstract shapes and colors – the artist aims to show how different aspects of personality and emotions can intertwine and interact with each other. The painting invites the viewer to reflect on the multi-layered nature of the human personality – how inner experiences can be expressed through art – offering the viewer’s own interpretations and associations.
The next painting from artist Olga Melezhik called “Golden leaf” – this abstraction conveys a sense of mystery and depth through the use of textures, lines, and colors. In the center of the composition there is a shape that resembles a leaf or a feather, which is intersected by thin lines, and around this shape there are various textures and spots, which only creates depth for the painting. When painting his abstraction, the artist used dark and rich shades of green, purple and gold – the contrast between these colors creates a feeling of space. Textures and brushstrokes are used with a variety of techniques to create a sense of layering and complex structure – strokes of paint through spots and lines – adding tactility and visual complexity to the painting.
Looking at the abstraction and thinking how well the artist did a good job with the light and shadows – a feeling of radiance and subtle depth is created – the volume and shape of the feather/foliage itself is emphasized. Any abstraction for everyone can associate their own ideas and experiences, and we are only putting forward our own hypothesis. The main idea of this painting is to convey a sense of mystery and intrigue to the viewer – through the central shape, which resembles a leaf or a feather, symbolizing both growth and transformation; There is also a connection between natural elements through the green color palette and human experiences through the yellow and red colors. The viewer is left to reflect on the multilayered and complex nature of the world around us, as well as the hidden meanings and relationships that can be found in the underlying abstract form; thereby offering your own free interpretation and evoking different feelings and thoughts.
The next painting has a unique interaction of colors and shapes, creating the feeling that we are seeing the movements of energy itself – an abstraction from the artist Valeria Sign with the title “Cosmic passion”. The composition of the painting consists of two main color zones – red and green, which are intersected by a diagonal line with blue and white accents; a diagonal line runs through the entire composition, creating a feeling for the viewer that there is tension and division. The artist followed the call of her soul and used a color palette for her painting that combines red and green – creating contrast and adding drama, and between them black – like a cosmic void. Primary colors symbolize both opposing forces and emotions, also present like passion and calm, conflict and harmony. Blue and white palettes that accentuate the diagonal line and add a touch of depth and focus to the painting so that the viewer can focus their attention on them.
The artist used textures and brushstrokes to create volume, as well as to create movement and swirl, so to speak, to add the feeling that we are looking at dynamic energy – the composition becomes expressive. When viewing, the viewer feels three-dimensionality and space – this is created due to the play of light and shadow; they emphasize the very volume and depth of the form, especially noticeable along the diagonal line. The main idea of this painting is to convey human emotions such as tension and the interaction of forces through abstract shapes and colors – red and green – symbolize various emotional states and aspects of life, such as struggle and reconciliation, as well as energy and peace. The diagonal line that crosses the composition, which represents the path connecting these opposing elements or, so to speak, the border that separates them.
Abstract art allows you to explore complex ideas and emotions through the following media: shapes and colors; thus creating space for personal interpretation, and who knows, you might discover something new in this genre. We reviewed and analyzed six artists, revealed the main idea and meaning, let’s hope you liked it.
All examples of photographs and artists were kindly provided by Ukrainian Vintage Co.