Huang Gongwang's 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' (Part 2of 2).

China Horizon  C.T.Rasmuss, India ink (2012).

Last Friday I blogged (Part 1of 2) and noted that I ran into bit of a problem using Huang Gongwang's 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' as a composition for my action painting performance at Creativa.  Well the performance went great resulting in 'White Castle Sonata' and the bonus is the resulting piece above: 

China Horizon; basically Gongwang's masterpiece below sparked this whole arrangement for me.

Well thanks Huang for the direction, if you ever get a chance to read this or see this piece (which is an entirely different story).  It is what it is....the whole premises for my piece; which starts with a single line in the hills continuing onto the right of the background.

Although this starting point is the only part I truly incorporated from Gongwang's masterpiece, I still couldn't have created it with out the help of an artist that lived nearly 800 years ago-on the other side of the world...

Small world after all, ey?....with plenty of inspiration I might add!!!

                          Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (1st half)  Huang Gongwang (1350).      

Huang Gongwang's 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains' (Part 1of 2).

So I enjoy meeting with an artist's group called, Creativa where there's always a plethora of mediums and backgrounds from which the artist operate; we've meet every 2nd Saturday for the last 5 years here in Cincinnati, OH. great times I might add!!

Monthly dilemma: what to do?  Like any other piece I attempt, I'm lucky in that it usually comes to me quick, then I just need to figure which direction to go in; again most like any other time, but this is a live performance which I've incorporated over the last few times we've met.  Here's my process for tonight; (short and quick) if your interested...

note: some variations in steps/order for each time I prepare, as artists are hopefully always changing their ways!!


Step 1: MEDIUM-  Which will be India Ink tonight.

Step 2: SET UP-     I will be using what I have available, which is a large sheet of heavy watercolor paper
                               tonight.


Step 3: COMPOSITION-
                               
                                Tonight I decided for the 1st time to pay homage to the originators of this  
                                medium; and  I'm now in the hunt to learn more about one of these masters from                             
                                the East.


Step 4: SKETCH- Once I find what strikes me, I'll learn more about their work, and quickly sketch it.

Step 5: CHOOSE MUSIC- I usually choose 3-4 songs totaling under 10-12 minutes, theme's important.

Step 6: EXECUTE!!!

Step 7: SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE NIGHT AND ARTISTS AT WORK!!!

Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (first half)  Huang Gongwang (1350).

Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" is one of the few surviving works by the painter Huang Gongwang in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).  He's considered a member of the "four great masters of the Yuan." 

Huang spent his last years in the Fuchun Mountains near Hangzhou and completed this painting in 1350.

After Sketching I ran into bit of a problem..

This MASTERPIECE requires much more than just a quick sketch I believe, and I wouldn't be giving it's due or the artist his respect if I didn't study this very intricate and complex composition much more before executing.  It took an attempt at sketching before realizing this and rather than forcing it; I will now move to plan B, and render a photo I took last night after leaving a disappointing art opening.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Art Deco?

Fill in the Blank  C.T. Rasmuss, acrylic (2011).

Would you classify this artwork of mine as Art Deco, based on the many definitions of Art Deco? 

I'm asking you, the viewer to help me decide this matter...it's an example for when art is at its most subjective, vulnerability - Classification. 

After all, it's just a harmless little word, and no where near as important as the essence of what it truly is (which I personally feel is utterly indescribable beyond any written word-as is human emotion and logic itself).

Here's a Wiki definition of Art Deco if you'd like a quick refresher on this classification:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Deco

none the less, I've now given it a proper title after going back through and editing this blog...Thank you for assisting me in 'thinking' aloud!!!