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Posted on 19/02/06 10:49:45 PM |
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Dek_101
Apocalyptic Artisan Posts: 175 Reply  |
Inspiration
Paul 2005's comments on this week's Friday Challenge prompted a few responses (my own included) which said that we can often draw inspiration for our own work from other members of the forum. Always keen to explore avenues I was wondering If other members of the forum (Steve especially) would like to share their personal inspirations. So the question is ... Which artists or styles do you enjoy or aspire to? For my own part I really like stylised photography of Pierre et Gille, David La Chapelle, Anton Corbijn and Gilbert & George. Also, whilst not having and specific religious beliefs of my own, I do appreciate the skill and passion that went into creating the classic religious images that hang in many galleries and churches .... Gericault's painting "The raft of the Medusa" is one of my favourites and I know this was inspired in turn by the work of Rubens and Michelangelo. This may all sound a bit high brow but have to admit that my own introduction to "The raft of the Medusa" was in an altered state as the cover to The Pogues album "Rum, Sodomy & the lash" where the original faces in the painting had been replaced by those of the band. 
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Posted on 19/02/06 11:56:54 PM |
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trinityofone
Guest Reply |
Re: Inspiration
I have to say, I really don't aspire to any artist. That's not being arrogant; in fact, quite the opposite. I don't class myself as an artist and therefore cannot have aspirations, only respect. I like the work of Giger, J.K Potter, the pre-raphs, et al but I could only imitate, not innovate based on their work. _________________ It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays |
Posted on 20/02/06 00:28:04 AM |
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Paul McFadden
Dream Decryptor Posts: 138 Reply  |
Re: Inspiration
Personally, I love hundreds of artists, of differing styles, from the early Renaisance to the early 20th century. Some of my favourites are Caravaggio - the master of light & dark, whose influence still shapes modern cinema. Durer - esp his intricate woodcuts. Holbein, as good a draughstman as ever has lived. Brueghel - whose canvases are packed with detail, and reward repeated viewings and, of course ... Michelangelo & Da Vinci - 2 towering geniuses, not just of the Renaissance, but among the greatest figures in Western History. In fact, the only art I just cannot appreciate is the kind thta dominates places such as Tate Modern & the Saatchi (including Gilbert & George - sorry !) _________________ |
Posted on 20/02/06 01:46:30 AM |
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Dek_101
Apocalyptic Artisan Posts: 175 Reply |
Re: Inspiration
LOL ... No need for apologies about 'Gilbert and George' ... they can be a bit OTT 
I wouldn't want this to turn into a debate about 'what IS art?' though or about whether anyone has good or bad taste. The whole point of me asking the question was to just find out where different people find their influences .. whether that's from photography, fine art, Tv, cinema, video games or music ... whatever really it doesn't matter. I was hoping it might be a way of people getting to know each other a little better on here .. maybe an opportunity for people to discover other common interests? Also I was expecting people to throw up a lot of names I've probably never heard of which would then inspire me to go off and do some research and maybe explore some directions I'd never thought of. You've already given me a few names to go and check out ... thanks for the feedback guys .. Hopefully a few more people may join in with this thread .. I look forward to reading your comments. |
Posted on 20/02/06 08:50:13 AM |
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maiden
Golden Gif Gagster Posts: 471 Reply  |
Re: Inspiration
I suppose I'm quite open to many inspirations so I don't focus on any particular style and I'm still struggling to find my own unique style. I Like Henri Cartier Bresson, David Bailey and Bill Brant all of whom are masters of portraits and I like to emulate their style in my photography although nowhere near as good, but I like particularly Brant's style of putting his subject off-centre even with the classical head & shoulder portraits that most people slap bang in the middle, it's subtle changes and rule breaking that change a photo from the average into the extraordinary. Artist wise I like Paul Cezanne for his bold use of colour and form and David Hockney just simply for his style. Comedy wise I like anything anarchic and in your face, Monty Python, Bottom, The Young Ones, Not the Nine O'clock News, Smack the Pony, Lee & Herring, Big Train, Friday/Saturday Night Armistice, Brass Eye etc. _________________ mad as a badger and twice as furry |
Posted on 20/02/06 4:57:32 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7023 Reply  |
Re: Inspiration
This is an interesting question. The artists that inspire me are frequently those that produce work I could never aspire to. But I'm always drawn to artists whose work pushes the boundaries of what's possible and what's acceptable. In particular, I disagree strongly with Paul McFadden's distaste for the Saatchi stuff: both Apocalypse and Sensation were exhibitions that I found truly inspiring. I wonder, Paul, did you actually go and see either exhibition? I know descriptions of Tracey Emin's tent, to take one example, made it sound daft. But my view is that you have to see the art to make a judgement! So, a personal shortlist: Edward Hopper, for his astonishing humanity and his ability to show us inside the souls of others. Rene Magritte, for his playful imagination and sense of fun. The Chapman Brothers, for their attention to detail, vision and daring. Ron Mueck, for his ability to reveal the hidden depths in everyone and everything - and, of course, his technical brilliance. H R Giger, for having unlocked the collective nightmare. Joel Peter Witkin, for his extraordinary talent for finding beauty in the macabre. Paul Sample, whose covers for Tom Sharpe's books first showed me how entertaining illustration can be. Po Shun Leong, whose craftsmanship and vision almost (but not quite) make me want to hang up my woodworking tools. And, of course, Pablo Picasso, for his sheer, mind boggling genius. |
Posted on 20/02/06 6:43:41 PM |
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Paul McFadden
Dream Decryptor Posts: 138 Reply |
Re: Inspiration
No, Steve, Im afraid I didnt see either of those exhibitions. I have, however, been to Tate Modern many times - and just dont "get" many of the permanent installations. I hesitate to use 'Emperors New Clothes' - but just cant shake off that feeling when I see, for instance, a pile of rubbish dumped on the ground! As for the Chapman brothers - I did love their recreations of Goya's Horrors of War prints - that was great - but is it great art? Not to me. One thing I did love in Tate Modern, though, was the Edward Hopper exhibition last year (or was it the year before?) - so I agree with you on that one ! Never heard of Witkin, Mueck, Sample or Po Shun Leong but Ill look forward to checking them out Cheers _________________ |
Posted on 20/02/06 6:53:08 PM |
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Born2Run
Digital Dude Posts: 132 Reply  |
Re: Inspiration
I'm not a big art fan... I do like some of the 'pop art'y type images! My inspiration usually comes from what music I'm listening to at the time. Usually Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, Neil Young, Meat Loaf, Buddy Holly or Tim McGraw. _________________ Til' then tramps like us, baby we were born to run |
Posted on 20/02/06 8:31:01 PM |
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Neal
Master Manipulator Posts: 322 Reply |
Re: Inspiration
I'm not an artist. But I have some design and advertising skills. I'm afraid my inspiration is pedestrian and low-brow. I own several design and advertising annuals where I steal ideas daily. I use Steve as an inspiration. Also, Tibor Kalman. And for retouching skills and humor, I study the work of a retired retoucher who goes by the on-line name DerAlt. And, like Steve, Rene Magritte. |
Posted on 21/02/06 00:35:43 AM |
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kenney
Detail Devotee Posts: 46 Reply  |
Re: Inspiration
ansel adams first sparked an intrest in photography for me and on a lighter note I think Gary larsons cartoons are hilarious . |
Posted on 22/02/06 9:04:59 PM |
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Whaler
Visual Viking Posts: 330 Reply  |
Re: Inspiration
I can't name any artist that is my inspiration, but in general I prefer paintings/pictures that triggers my own imagination, i e the paintings/pictures should not be too explicit and not necessarily have a lot of detail. Also, I can't I would lie if I said if I liked every work by a certain artist, even the most famous ones have their ups and downs. Specifically I recall a painting of a dog, a dalmatian I believe, in profile against a grey background and just a setting sun (could have been a rising sun for that matter). I still wonder why that dog was sitting there and I still would like to have that painting hanging on my own wall (it wasn't for sale). But by saying that, I guess it would be fair to say that I'm impressed by the impressionist (!) and how they create light and shadows and anything in between by just adding, in most cases, small dabs of paint. |
Posted on 22/02/06 10:31:26 PM |
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Dek_101
Apocalyptic Artisan Posts: 175 Reply |
Re: Inspiration
Thanks for all the feedback on this thread .. I'm enjoying checking out the names I'm not familiar with ... I haven't got through even half of them yet but I do have to thank Maiden for introducing me to Henri Cartier Bresson ... I love what I've seen so far and am probably going to end up spending a fortune in Waterstones  ... Also thanks to David for J.K Potter, great stuff.
From Steve's list I thought I'd check out Joel Peter Witkin ... an interesting choice as I discovered  ... but very relevant to my original question about 'inspirarion' it would seem.
During my search I came across a picture by Witkin called 'Las Meninas' ... I typed this title into google in the hope of finding a higher resolution version of the picture only to discover that it was a 'version' of an earlier picture by an artist called 'Valazquez' ... and not only that but Picasso had also painted his own 'version' of this same scene. So .. It would seem that 'Inspiration' is certainly nothing new! 
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