Hard-edge painters thrive in the in-between times
Whenever taking up a new art-form, whether it’s painting, music, or synchronized swimming, it’s helpful to know what other people in the field are doing. One issue that art critics have commented on in recent years is the lack of a unifying mode, such as the pop art and abstract expressionism of the 1950s. Both of these styles are still in play today, by the way. One style which is growing in popularity is hard-edge painting.The term was first invented by California critic Jules Langsner for a 1959 exhibition. It referred to a style which emphasized the flatness of the canvas with hard-edged areas of bright, contrasting colors. The mode took off in California, exemplified by artists like Lorser Feitelson and Frederick Hammersley. Hammersley’s “Geometrics,” painted between 1959 and 1964, are a good example, made up of sharply divided forms and different interlocking shapes.Hard-edge painting is an effective way to demonstrate neatness and economy, an attractive feature for many modern painters. It’s been connected with the schools of Minimalism, Geometric Abstraction, and Op Art (the art of optical illusions). The style is often associated with a cool, laid-back demeanor (hence its association with the art scene of California). Try incorporating clean, sharp lines and colors into your work, and examine the results. Do you find that it helps to bring out your over-all themes and expressiveness? If so, check out Lawrence Alloway’s 1960 West Coast Hard-Edge exhibition for more inspiration.
Posted on September 27th, 2010 by www.atelp.org
Filed under: Inspiration, Painting History