The Captain's Log

Enyaw

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11 x 14 inches .. acrylic on paper .. alla prima .. painted April 07/26
On a run which started with the abstract challenge and continues here. Not sure what will come of it but I have taken from abstract and added to my own repertoire and what will be will be. Thanks for looking. Comments always welcome. I combined a few of my older boat paintings into what you see here and that's why it's called what it is.
 
I definitely see some structures here and I like how you let your boat images veer into the abstract. Cool stuff, Wayne.
 
View attachment 54647
11 x 14 inches .. acrylic on paper .. alla prima .. painted April 07/26
On a run which started with the abstract challenge and continues here. Not sure what will come of it but I have taken from abstract and added to my own repertoire and what will be will be. Thanks for looking. Comments always welcome. I combined a few of my older boat paintings into what you see here and that's why it's called what it is.
This is great! I see your sharp angles are still in play here. I agree, this is not an abstract - if an abstract means no recognizable shapes. I definitely see a figure (the Captain?) seated at a nondescript desk structure, but there's not enough detail to know if the person is making a log or gazing off.

Of course, the visible "ship" structure on the right is in completely the wrong place for reality, which is fabulous, and we also get these subtle leading lines on the top left and right that almost mimic the shape of a bow. Cool! Very pretty brown palette, too.

Love it! ❤️
 
Thank you Dona and Terri. Agree, it’s a little of this and a little of that but the values hold your attention long enough to see if you like it or not. That’s all you can ask of an art piece.
 
This is a wonderful strong piece! I think this is definitely your thing Enyaw.👏🏻 Reminds me of the German Expressionist Ludwig Meidner. I have definitely seen powerful work like this. if I come across more, I will definitely let you know. But names escape me right now.
German expressionists
Well, there are many different styles in abstract art. We often we talk about abstract art as being nonrepresentational, but there are some styles that do refer to real life.
A quick search says…
“Yes, abstract art can include recognizable people or things, though this usually falls under the category of partial abstraction or abstracted figuration. While "pure" or "non-objective" abstraction contains no recognizable references, much of modern art exists on a continuum, simplifying, distorting, or exaggerating real-world subjects rather than abandoning them entirely.
The Art Story +1
Here is how abstract art can incorporate recognizable elements:
  • Partial Abstraction: The artist uses a real-world object as a starting point but simplifies, distorts, or changes its colors, leaving only an "echo" of the original subject.
  • Cubism: Artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque often deconstructed portraits, landscapes, or still lifes. A portrait in this style may appear highly abstract, but will retain recognizable elements of a human form.
  • Abstracted Figuration: This style focuses on the essence of a subject—like a person or landscape—but reduces it to its essential shapes and colors, prioritizing emotion over realism.
  • Gestural/Lyric Abstraction: Sometimes, within a chaotic or emotional work, a shape might mimic a familiar object, such as a tree or figure, even if that was not the artist's primary intention.
    Reddit +5
Key Differences to Understand:
  • Pure/Non-Objective Art: Totally abstract, bearing no trace of any reference to anything recognizable (e.g., Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollock).
  • Partial Abstraction: The subject is recognizable but transformed, distorted, or simplified.
    The Art Story +4
In summary, abstract art often starts with a concrete subject from reality before distorting it, meaning you may frequently find faint or heavily re-imagined figures and objects within the artwork.
TheVirtualInstructor.com +1”
 
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