Comments on: Philosophy http://www.verrocchio.co.uk/nkonstam/blog Nigel Konstam (a New Humanist sculptor) Sat, 04 Jan 2014 18:29:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: NK http://www.verrocchio.co.uk/nkonstam/blog/the-philosophy-of-%e2%80%9cnew-humanism%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-17 NK Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:15:04 +0000 http://www.verrocchio.co.uk/nkonstam/blog/?page_id=13#comment-17 Thank you for your participation Robin. I hope we meet one day. I said Rembrandt was the most evolved humanly and I stick by that, though I admire all the artists you name. I am very glad to hear of all the pleinaireism you speak of. Keep in touch. Thank you for your participation Robin. I hope we meet one day. I said Rembrandt was the most evolved humanly and I stick by that, though I admire all the artists you name. I am very glad to hear of all the pleinaireism you speak of. Keep in touch.

]]> By: Robin d'Arcy Shillcock http://www.verrocchio.co.uk/nkonstam/blog/the-philosophy-of-%e2%80%9cnew-humanism%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Robin d'Arcy Shillcock Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:39:10 +0000 http://www.verrocchio.co.uk/nkonstam/blog/?page_id=13#comment-14 Dear Mr. Konstam, I would be wary of naming one artist above all others to whom we ought to look for guidance concerning New Humanism. I can name quite afew others who have brought the human condition so admirably to our attention: Andrew Wyeth (1918-2009), Edgar Degas, Velasquez, Goya, Henri de Toulosue Lautrec, to name but a few. I think, also it would be difficult of successfully promoting a "return to" in these times in which it has become all-important to "sample and choose' from the wide variety of goods and services offered the public (think of internet!). For years I was sad about the loss of values I was taught by my old (now deceased) art teacher for whom observation came first and foremost where painting was concerned. But I have only recently discovered that a new international movement in painting is developing: pleinairism. There are many blogs by primarily young artists who paint "one a day", and/or celebate the joy of working in situ. My remark, after seeing literally dozens and dozens of blogs, would be: sure, great to be out in the open and paint, and great to do an oil a day, but, er, would it be possible to perhaps produce less paintings but produce better ones? Such a euphoria emanates from these blogs and sites, but very little that stands the test of serious analysis. To many of these "artists" the event is what counts; it's pumping that adrenaline through your body. There are also more and more clips showing young artists sketching models, again, like an event witnessed by an audience (see artist david Kassan sketching a portrait in Portugal in front of an audience). It might look superficial, and it often is, but there are a lot of people out there working from observation, many more than back in the 70s and 80s —when I felt I was an anomaly, a neanderthal, a Ford Model T on the A1, and I gave up hope. Almost. In time, perhaps, I hope, others will evolve from this movement of pleinairism, we'll be seeing great talents, and lesser talents that work hard and get great results worthy of the public's attention. I'm still hoping. Best wishes, Robin Dear Mr. Konstam,

I would be wary of naming one artist above all others to whom we ought to look for guidance concerning New Humanism. I can name quite afew others who have brought the human condition so admirably to our attention: Andrew Wyeth (1918-2009), Edgar Degas, Velasquez, Goya, Henri de Toulosue Lautrec, to name but a few.
I think, also it would be difficult of successfully promoting a “return to” in these times in which it has become all-important to “sample and choose’ from the wide variety of goods and services offered the public (think of internet!).
For years I was sad about the loss of values I was taught by my old (now deceased) art teacher for whom observation came first and foremost where painting was concerned. But I have only recently discovered that a new international movement in painting is developing: pleinairism. There are many blogs by primarily young artists who paint “one a day”, and/or celebate the joy of working in situ. My remark, after seeing literally dozens and dozens of blogs, would be: sure, great to be out in the open and paint, and great to do an oil a day, but, er, would it be possible to perhaps produce less paintings but produce better ones? Such a euphoria emanates from these blogs and sites, but very little that stands the test of serious analysis. To many of these “artists” the event is what counts; it’s pumping that adrenaline through your body. There are also more and more clips showing young artists sketching models, again, like an event witnessed by an audience (see artist david Kassan sketching a portrait in Portugal in front of an audience). It might look superficial, and it often is, but there are a lot of people out there working from observation, many more than back in the 70s and 80s —when I felt I was an anomaly, a neanderthal, a Ford Model T on the A1, and I gave up hope. Almost. In time, perhaps, I hope, others will evolve from this movement of pleinairism, we’ll be seeing great talents, and lesser talents that work hard and get great results worthy of the public’s attention. I’m still hoping.

Best wishes,

Robin

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