EXPLORATIONS

Geri deGruy's blog of art, musings, and inspiration

Mark Rothko's Recipe for Art

Posted on 5/13/2012 6:51:37 PM by Geri deGruy - 2 Comments
Topics: artists you should meet | craft 

Almost everyone has seen a Mark Rothko painting. He is widely known for his color-block paintings which he thought contained the "breath of life."

Magenta, Black and Green on Orange

Four Dark Reds

Black and Grey

In 1958 Rothko gave a talk about "The recipe of a work of art - its ingredients - how to make it - the formula." Pretty interesting I think. It's a lot to consider when creating.

1. There must be a clear preoccupation with death - intimations of mortality.

2. Sensuality. Our basis of being concrete about the world. It is a lustful relationship to things that exist.

3. Tension. Either conflict or curbed desire.

4. Irony.

5. Wit and play.

6. The ephemeral and chance.

7. Hope. 10% to make the tragic concept more endurable.

I measure these ingredients very carefully when I paint a picture. It is always the form that follows these elements and the picture results from the proportions of these elements." (Wikipedia)

Mark Rothko

What do you think? What is the recipe for art in your experience?

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Comments

2 Responses to Mark Rothko's Recipe for Art

I loved Marc Rothko's art! He was an inspiration to me when I was young. I loved the tactile element in his paintings. I could actually "feel" his paintings visually and I loved that! I went on to paint a whole series of color-striped paintings, many of which were reds moving towards blue. I loved them but felt a bit restricted by that formalist format. I wanted to see more of the artist's hand in my work, so I went back to drawing large charcoals. I attended more art classes, studying classical painting techniques in more detail. Since then, I've been enjoying doing landscapes, still lifes and portraits. I'm now preparing to have a show of my work at Centenary College's Magale Library in Shreveport, LA on March 23. I'll be showing some of my Color and Design work which I won an award for in 2009 at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. I'll also be showing paintings that I've been working on for the past few years. That includes landscape and portrait work. I have landscapes from my travels to Paris and Florence included as well, so it should be interesting! If you are able, you are welcome to come take a look! I love all the comments I read by you on your blog and your can-do attitude!

Posted by Laura Fischer Saxon · via geri.fineartstudioonline.com · 165 months ago

Hi Laura. I would love to come to your show, but I live in Colorado and don't have a trip to the south planned for awhile. We lived in Mobile, AL for 14 years so we come back regularly to see family and friends. Congratulations on your show! I would love to see your work.

Thank you for the kind comments about my blog! I welcome suggestions too. Best, Ger

Posted by Geri deGruy · via geridegruy.com · 165 months ago

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