“Golden Sun Bathed in Red” [8th September 2024, dry paint image on the 11th] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, acrylic paint on premium 115gsm medium textured cotton primed to 240gsm over 12in x 16in (30cm x 40cm) wood-fibre board (4mm), 6000 x 4461 pixels.
From social media in bold and italics:
[ I made “Golden Sun Bathed in Red” very quickly in two drafts. The first draft palette work to cover the canvas with a purple I mixed from red/blue acrylic. Then around half an hour to an hour later I produced the entire work within approximately one hour using brushwork primarily.
Palette work can be seen for the sunray fronds. The paints I used additional to the red/blue purple are gold, cadmium red, iridescent copper, orange and green. ]
Do click on the image above, see for yourself the artistry within the painting.
The photography for the original image (shown immediately below) is a specialised style I developed from my sketch “King James VI & I Oak of 1612 Branches in Sunlight”. Whereas the latter is direct lamp light, for “Golden Sun Bathed in Red” I photographed with indirect lamp light.
“Golden Sun Bathed in Red – wet canvas in indirect light” [8th September 2024] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, acrylic paint on premium 115gsm medium textured cotton primed to 240gsm over 12in x 16in (30cm x 40cm) wood-fibre board (4mm), 5724 x 4189 pixels.
The point I’m making with my artworks is light makes a difference to the presentation. Often I think how I wish an individual artwork to be displayed in terms of lighting.
For instance I have a specific installation idea for “Gold & Blue Abstract After Rothko” (click link to see artwork). I see “Gold & Blue Abstract After Rothko” in an enclosed booth. Each viewer walks in through the low ceiling doorway entrance, likely bowing as they do so. They reach the painting, sitting down at personable distance to the moonlit-like artwork.
Sat meditating. To contemplate their life and life. To refind peace.
By the way, I saved someone work for much later with “Gold & Blue Abstract After Rothko” to help with any potential restoration work centuries yond.
Here it is as a reference for a dear old lady of the future:
“Ecce Pueri” [4th April 2024] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, digital image hand drawn on screen over original abstract, 1089 x 1641 pixels.
If Monet can begin with caricatures (please refer to the link here Claude Monet’s Caricatures) to influence modern French cartoons, then it is good in my eyes. Besides, I have an immense humour.
[ Claude Monet Caricatures website link courtesy of Draw Paint Academy ]
Breadcrumbs in tarragon crusted sea bass anyone?
Yesterday evening I was walking around theatrically to myself, waving my hands aloft in the air dramatically exclaiming ‘I see the hands of Calibos!‘.. continuing with ‘oh what eyes you have Grandma‘.. then finishing on chatter about wolves in sheeps clothing of fabled fame.
Fun, fun, fun the intellects of centuries past.
I went on to thinking about “The Allegory of Good and Bad Government“ (please click link to view). Artists of the 1300s understanding the contrary elements of good or nefarious intent.
Essentially “Golden Sun Bathed in Red” is specifically a mix of Van Gogh and Munch for style. Their work is loved for a reason..
.. quality and care.
The search for most every professional artist.
With this in mind I shall share with you a quote courtesy of Daily Rothko:
“…nobody has any conception of how poor we all were then. I remember maybe as late as 1955, you know, after the so-called triumph of Abstract Expressionism Rothko saying to me, ‘If somebody would pay me $500 a month for all my past work, which constituted hundreds of pictures, plus everything I’ll make in the future, I would gladly accept it in order to survive.’ I remember looking him in silence because we knew – and this is in 1955 – that nobody in the world would pay him $6,000 a year for his total output; and he was married with a child in the most expensive city in the world.” – Robert Motherwell
(Interview by Paul Cummings at the Artist’s home in Greenwich, Connecticut November 24, 1971, Smithsonian Archives of American Art).
Appreciating and dignifying the monetary value for his work Rothko was in effect asking for $5,882.48 a month if we adjust $500 in 1955 for inflation.
Today, completely unconnected to adjusted inflation Rothko’s rather modest 1955 commentary-offer easily proved worthwhile with his abstract paintings selling for millions of dollars.. each.
“Gold & Blue Abstract after Rothko” [April 2024] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, acrylic fine art painting on 24cm x 18cm canvas board, 3534 x 4794 pixels.
Quotes #1 and #2:
#1 [ these two art made (*1a) tonight. the gold one was very difficult to make. i tonked it after the second (yet first) draft. then i made it (even more) perfect again. it was originally two squares. the blossom one was an instant joy over two drafts. both i shall gift. one i know to whom, for difficulty became joy. the other i am as yet not knowing to whom. ] – April 2024.
#2 [ The central two squares I am referring to looked like my digital artwork “Dusty Glass Greenhouse” [see next image for this artwork (*1b) yet in gold and yellow ochre. After I finished “Gold & Blue Abstract after Rothko” I knew I had made an artwork to be very happy with.
A strong happiness having achieved my first 100% Rothko style!
For those interested in my process I became immensely focused with every single palette knife movement, the canvas textures and uniformity of the entire piece.
Please note I have included the natural light cast upon the canvas at the time of photographing for you to enjoy the gallery experience of seeing a physical canvas. ] – 2nd April 2024.
(*1a) these two art made refers to “Gold & Blue Abstract after Rothko” and “Cherry Blossom Abstract after Rothko”.
“Gold & Blue Abstract after Rothko” exhibits a handsome man’s face in the manner of a Greek god (Apollo perhaps?) or even Christ! Pure chance, 100%. It is best at approximately 10 to 30 degrees left of the image, in my opinion, to see this in a specific lighting effect. Hence somehow not yet fully understanding why.. I managed to title this as a Rothko.. in style of course!
The beautiful face.
Some kind of abstract genius to the work.
It really is very beautiful with a strong nose in a stylistic representation you appreciate. Not until in Pagani-like viewing of this work did I notice on that evening with my reading lamp on. True.
The shadow in my photograph above casts a shadow upon the face itself. With the correct light whilst viewing it adds further detail to the face. Quite extraordinary.
If this is difficult to fathom.. there is also a believable lion’s face in my “Cyan Palette Nebulae” in addition to an ‘alien-like woman’ face. Yes, freakeh for a certainty with both artworks. The latter probably took me not twenty minutes with completely random paint drips and quick palette work on the wet canvas.
(*1b) by the way is one of my “Dusty Glass Greenhouse” digital artworks here:
“Dusty Glass Greenhouse – City 3D” [digital Art, 7th September 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, 100% digital artwork, 1920 x 1080 pixels.
For Variations of my “Dusty Glass Greenhouse” series works I have included these after the abstract acrylic paintings in this article, see further below. Please do click on images to see close-up details.
Next is abstract acrylic painting “Yellow Gold Rectangular Masterpiece”:
“Yellow Gold Rectangular Masterpiece” [4th April 2024] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, acrylic fine art painting on 24cm x 18cm canvas board, 3000 x 4058 pixels.
Quote:
[ I made three miniature canvas artworks (*2) on the same draft evening session. This yellow gold work is the first piece, completed in minutes to be honest.
The second piece was also completed in minutes, whilst the third is still in the decision making process.
The third artwork has two exceptional digital works derived after its second draft session of 5th April. It looks like an abstract bank note I guess, unpublished for now.
As for “Yellow Gold Rectangular Masterpiece”.. it is so perfect it’s difficult to believe how quickly I made it.
A genuine love at first sight artwork in every way. ] – 5th April 2024.
The framing area of this artwork was delicately intricate for me to do. As for the palette knife work, like “Cherry Blossom Abstract after Rothko” the palette work was quite effortless really. Everything just placed nicely.
It might sound silly to some, I was ecstatic after “Yellow Gold Rectangular Masterpiece” in all soberness. Holding the artwork, as I have just now whilst writing, I love the piece so much. With this and “Gold & Blue Abstract after Rothko” I feel I made genuine ground with depth in the spirit of his style.
I have viewed all these acrylic abstracts every day to-date since making them.
(*2) the three miniature canvas artworks quoted on the same evening are “Yellow Gold Rectangular Masterpiece”, “Cyan Palette Nebulae” [as yet unpublished to WordPress] and “Green Umber Gold Rectangular Abstract” see image immediately below:
“Green Umber Gold Rectangular Abstract” [4th/5th April 2024] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, acrylic fine art painting on 24cm x 18cm canvas board, 2252 x 3000 pixels.
Quote:
[ It took some time for me to be happy with the canvas appearance for this green umber gold work.
Interestingly I painted with the gold to the left in landscape situ (prior to adding the gold of course!). I prefer the way it is displayed here in portrait with the gold at the top, although I do like the landscape view also.
The gold was added after the green and umber was first defined due purely to aesthetic canvas spacing.
The painting has a deep affect through its harmony of paint layers. ] – 6th April 2024.
nb I painted this in landscape situ also after the gold line was added.
It’s a love or loathe artwork I guess?
Like or dislike it actually received the most working hours by me! Particularly since the other two abstract acrylic artworks of the evening took minutes, being happily finished in an evening.
You will most likely love this artwork if you see the physical canvas, just like “Gold Squared Green/Gold Tile” (btw as regards Gold Squared it needed that further draft, honestly, ‘If so‘ you preferred the first draft of the latter).
I worked on “Green Umber Gold Rectangular Abstract” the next day (5th April).
< Can I just say it’s 0230hrs UK. Three hours ^^ since beginning to write/produce this article, non-stop. The rest of the article is already written and in the edit. I am writing these <> words whilst proof-reading, quite tired. My half glass of a vintage 2020 grape wine variety has long gone. Yes, I want another half or full glass even. However it’s far too late, I need to sleep. Obviously. Drank from my heavy crystal decanter glass gifted years ago by my Nan and Grandad, both passed. >
Every worthwhile artist who is reading this knows we must be happy with our artistic work. A finite orangey rectangle was added around the green, after the (now top) gold line. Smattering of gold paint is added into the central canvas too. In approximately three or four areas. Blended-in, all except one (lower-left in portrait image).
Having reviewed the piece.. it.. needs.. light.. to make it come alive. Most all my works do.
I set out to be a master of light. Modestly I write.
The central gold is very subtle. I was sort of obsessed getting it ‘correct’ to be honest. In terms of paint layering technique this one is likely closest to the way Rothko built his individual canvases, I would guess.
The layering is sophisticated.
I do not view “Cyan Palette Nebulae” as Rothko in style whatsoever.
My own works in the Rothko style refer to colour theory and spiritual sense over exactly emulating his canvases. I do play on the rectangular shapes though, as we see in my next newly WordPress published piece:
“Cherry Blossom Abstract after Rothko” [April 2024] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, acrylic fine art painting on 24cm x 18cm canvas board, 6258 x 8383 pixels.
“Cherry Blossom Abstract after Rothko” is all about colour theory and emotion.
I have seen and you can think its mad if you like..
An elephant with its trunk
A heart (of the emoji and classical symbol shape)
A bushbaby
An ‘M’. LAUGH please. I see an ‘M’ in practically everything as you probably all know by now (*3)
Do click on the image for yourself.
(*3) btw I actually took a photograph late afternoon 14th April of an ‘M’ in the fabric of my cargo pants. LAUGH. Oh gosh.. louder than that please haha.
Anyway, I made Cherry Blossom quite quickly without any abstract shape ideas whatsoever. Stick your tongue out if you want, if you feel I write like a kid.
Please believe me. I only concentrated upon colour contrasts. In this I was very happy with the result.
Next up, roll up, we have:
“Dusty Glass Greenhouse – Burgundy Red 3D” [digital Art, 7th September 2023] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, 100% digital artwork, 1920 x 1080 pixels.
“Dusty Glass Greenhouse – Burgundy Red 3D”.. cool digital art, you agree?
This one is the Original digital artwork, the first. I posted City 3D to Instagram for its dynamic colour range. It’s style is part of a theme I had/have for microscopic organisms.
I will feature the original “Painted Organism #1” with its Variants at the earliest. Having made such a prolific number of 100% digital artworks at that time I just couldn’t publish everything immediately.
Please let me know how I did with my proof-reading, grammatical construction and interconnectivity.
The Unfathomable Artist 