A Contemporary Abstract Artist's Manifesto

Preface

As a contemporary artist, this short manifesto is meant Wicca summarize cashing in endowments beliefs about creativity in the visual arts. Its main purpose is to remind myself of the correct approach I should follow and stick with.

At the same time, having been a professional artist for over thirty years, and having thought about these aspects for a long time, I decided to share these ideas with other interested artists and students.

I believe these ideas and instructions prescription drugs open for debate and I invite all and sundry to discuss the issues raised. Ultimately my philosophy is for my own use and it may be meaningless for anybody else.

1. Capture the essentials and ignore the insignificant

Try to capture the essential elements of a visual experience. Ignore the superfluous bits and eliminate unnecessary details. Focus on the critical aspects of the subject and capture only the significant and lasting characteristics.

2. Never compete with the camera

Reproducing accurately what the eye sees is not necessarily artistic creativity. Technical proficiency may only produce an impressive illustration. A musical composer does not merely reproduce the sounds heard in nature, but creates a composition from his heart. Be interested in only creating images which reflect your subjective response to places, or express your feelings and capture the mood of being there.

3. Venture beyond the comfort zone

Do not be content to settle into a commercially successful and 'easy' style. Refuse to limit your output to 'much of the same' thus avoiding the use of a tired old formula. Choose to move beyond the safe comfort zone. Search for variety, revel in the excitement of discovering something new and unfamiliar, and also learn to experiment with 'future possibilities'.

4. Be seduced by abstraction, learn from music

Good abstract painters use the same verizon conference call principles as composers of music -- balanced composition, integrity, mood, tone, colour, texture, rhythm, harmony, contrast, balance, tension, counterpoint and so on. The objective is the same: creating a mood, arousing a feeling, stirring the emotions.

5. Focus on happiness and not on the dreary side of life

If you opt for using bright, cheerful, Australian colours, then you can express the thrill of being alive. I tend to focus on creating happy and optimistic images that contribute to the pleasant experiences of life.

For me as an artist the real achievement is when people tell me that my artworks speak to them, when my creations touch their hearts and spirit. When my paintings wash away the sweat and dust of their stressful working days, I am happy.

ernie-gerzabek.com/index.html" target="_blankErnie Gerzabek - contemporary artist