Painting(s) of the Day by Terri Brooks

Terri Brooks, Neapolitan, 2011. Oil, enamel, pigment and PVA on canvas, 127x176 cm, Polyptych.

Minmal Abstraction - Old and New

I saw a lot of minimal abstraction in New York and the more I see the more I enjoy it. These images don't even come close to the first-hand experience which is part of what made these works so alluring. The black paint on a Reinhardt painting is something that just doesn't translate to photos, prints, reproductions or anything else. I've been a lot more interested in the surfaces of my own paintings lately, so there was a lot to learn while looking at these works:

Malevich's ''White on White"

Malevich's ''White on White" - detail

Ad Reinhardt - Gorgeous black painting - one of the most perfect surfaces I've ever seen. Like a soft, warm, matte black hole - doesn't look like anything in the photo but it was pretty incredible in person.

Rothko paintings

Stella

Donald Judd

Donald Judd

Kate Shepherd

Kate Shepherd

Kate Shepherd - although hard to see in these photos, Shepherd has white geometric line drawings on these shiny surfaces.

Harry Smith paintings

Harry Smith, Untitled, circa 1977, oil and pen on board, 28 x 36 inHarry Smith, Untitled, circa 1978, oil and acrylic on board, approximately 26 x 26 in.

"History and memory", Peter Halley

hamburger hof, originally uploaded by allure_is.

1994

Aakash Nihalani

Aakash Nihalani

photo source.

photo source.

photo source.

Glam Rock as Abstraction

by Owen D. Harvey

Busy Busy

I've been blogging a little less lately trying to finish up a painting. It's based off of this photo:

And I thought there were elements of this image that reminded me of some of of my favorite abstractionists. For example, look at the fence section at the bottom of the image - it reminds me of a Agnes Martin grid or one of Frank Stella's monochromatic striped compositions:

Agnes Martin

Frank Stella (detail) photo by B-Mer

And I thought the roof sections reminded me of a Robert Motherwell painting - this may be a little more of a stretch or more difficult to see, but I've blurred the photo to make it more pronounced:

more blurred:

cropped in:

Robert MotherwellRobert Motherwell

I know it does not look just like a Motherwell, but I think the roof has a similar visual rhythm. Well that's what I see anyway...

Jenny Brillhart

Saxony Exterior - Purple Fence, 34 x 34", Oil on Panel

Saxony Exterior - Blue Wall, 12 x 15", Oil on Panel

Saxony Exterior - Double Doors, 15 x 22", Oil on Panel

I like her balance of geometric abstraction and realism. Her statement about the work is well written and concise;

• 
  
  "My paintings are about light, structure and place. I am drawn to subjects that offer a formal approach to painting and composition making. The clarity and controlled specificity of the paint’s value, color, and placement is critical. I aspire to make pictures that are considered, and honest to subject and craft."

Not enough can be said about that last sentence - especially the part about being "honest to subject and craft" - two virtuous and admireable attributes for a painting.

These paintings remind me of the work of photographer Philipp Hennig:

Photo by Philipp Hennig

Fine Lines: Bryan Schellinger and Devon Moore

Bryan Schellinger, "PDX-#1.07" , 2007 , Oil on Panel , 48 x 48 in.

Bryan Schellinger, "PDX-#4.07" , 2007 , Oil on Panel , 48 x 48 in.

Devon Moore, “Hoverplate”, 2007, phosphate coated steel, 45 x 45 inches

Devon Moore, “Hoverplate (side view)”, 2007, phosphate coated steel, 45 x 45 inches

Callum Innes - Exposed Paintings

CALLUM INNES
Exposed Painting Cinnabar Green
2005
Oil on canvas
115 x 110 cm

CALLUM INNES
Exposed Painting Bluish Grey 2
2006
Oil on canvas
102.5 x 95.5 cm

CALLUM INNES
Exposed Painting Royal Blue
2007
Oil on canvas
160.5 x 156.5 cm

Xiaoze Xie Paintings

The MoMA Library (H), 2005oil on canvas32 x 46"

The MoMA Library (46-50), 2005oil on canvas40 x 60"

The MoMA Library (G), 2005oil on canvas40 x 60"

I love Xiaoze Xie's attention to detail and overall minimal aesthetic. He's done several different series of paintings with subjects like stacks of newspapers, magazines, and books. I had the oppurtunity to see a couple of his works at ArtChicago a few years ago. The works are exquisitely painted and the scale of the works are a large part of their overall impact. Click on images for links to his 2006 exhibition "The MoMA Library." I believe these particular paintings also relate well to geometric abstraction like Donald Judd.