Artists: How Do You Capture a City?
August 13th, 2007 by FineArtRegistry
Wild – Eccentric – Mythical and Unknowable Cities
Open Letter to Artists (From an Art Critic) – Part 36
The vividly descriptive terms used in an article titled Urban Streets are Tough to Paint: Open Letter to Artists (From an Art Critic) scolds those who portray cities poorly in their works of art, pointing out, that if you do not REALLY know the city you certainly can get it all wrong. If in fact you only portray the seamy side or perhaps just the angular lines of sun dancing along the buildings in a technical fashion, you are missing the whole point.
The city has a pulse that is always beating, and to portray it as lifeless and without heart is inexcusable, according to the author. To prove the point, the painting Nighthawks by Edward Hopper 1942, is used as one of the examples. In this painting you see the loneliness of people in a late-night diner and it evokes feelings that are human and understandable to the viewer. The artist is definitely telling a tale that we can relate to. Also referred to are several other famous artists that are known for their works portraying cities in ways that one can feel, without perhaps ever even seeing, the warmth of the lives or even the isolation of the people that inhabit it.
The author contrasts these with some other painters that the author cites after visiting a juried show where she observed works that had the cold feeling of a technical drawing – just pretty, fuzzy renderings with no message, no real humanity, obviously, straight out of a technical drawing studio. You see nothing of the artist himself/herself in their creations – just cold, un-remarkable pictures with no soul.
This critic is convinced that artists should draw from their inner feelings and so states in this straightforward, no holds barred article. Ouch! Criticism can really hurt, but it can also be of great help (especially if you ever plan to paint a city). Be sure to read the entire series written by painfully honest critic, Joan Altabe, at www.FineArtRegistry.com.
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