El arte abstracto es una de las formas de expresión que generan más interés dentro del arte. Esto se debe a que utiliza gran cantidad de elementos, como el color, la forma, las líneas o las texturas. Su popularidad estuvo en auge durante gran parte del siglo XX, manteniéndose vigente hasta nuestros días. La abstracción geométrica es uno de las tantas vertientes que tiene el arte abstracto, que se caracteriza por el uso de distintas formas geométricas, organizadas de manera “lógica”, para recrear determinada forma.

Técnicamente, las obras compuestas con un estilo similar al de la abstracción geométrica están dispuestas para que no represente entes u objetos que puedan ser palpables en la realidad. Cabe destacar que, de igual forma, los artistas que defienden esta peculiar expresión, mantienen que buscan hacer de esta algo universal y, sobre todo, objetivo, mediante el uso racional de las distintas formas neutrales y simples; además, sostienen que, las líneas, le confieren a la obra un tono delicado, claro y con fría precisión. Su precursor más importante fue Wassily Kandinsky, un pintor ruso que se movía en Europa exponiendo las virtudes artísticas que traía consigo la abstracción.

Entre sus antecedentes se puede mencionar el suprematismo, un movimiento impulsado por el artista ruso Kasimir Malevich, hacia el año 1915, cuya más resaltante característica era la reducida gama de formas y colores que se emplea para la realización de los cuadros; fue llamada “una de las formas más puras de arte abstracto”. Igualmente, el neoplasticismo, que osa como máximo exponente a Piet Mondrian, resaltaba por descomponer la forma de lo que iban a representar a sólo las siluetas más básicas, con colores primarios; una de las frases más célebres del artista antes mencionado, dicta: “Todo artista verdadero ha sido siempre inconscientemente movido por la belleza de la línea, del color y de las relaciones entre ellos, y no por lo que sean capaces de representar”.

Bibliografía

Concepto definición de, Redacción. ( Última edición:22 de septiembre del 2017). Definición de Abstracción Geométrica. Recuperado de: //conceptodefinicion.de/abstraccion-geometrica/. Consultado el 2 de septiembre del 2020

BY ARTISTS NETWORK STAFF

No More Fear of the Dreaded Blank Canvas!

Creative block. The bane of all artists. Kick it in the shins with 11 ideas for overcoming creative blocks and set your inner artist free once again!

1. Do you find a blank canvas or page intimidating? Apply a wash of color across it right away. It doesn’t matter what color — just load your brush and make a stroke. Now you’ve got movement and color. You can always cover it up later, but staring at a canvas striped with color is a lot more inspirational than looking at glaring white and not knowing where to start. (Even if the place to start is covering up that stripe of color!)

2. Get organized. Go through your studio and put everything in its place — and find a place for everything. Open every cabinet and every drawer. Most artists have more painting supplies than they use. That box you find in the back of the closet might be just the thing to inspire you to try something new.

One stroke gets rid of a blank canvas

3. Try a new medium. If you generally work in oil paints, try watercolor. If you usually do collage, try rubber-stamping. Most arts have crossover techniques and information, such as color theory, that can help you to see your own art in a new way.

4. Take a class. There are few things more inspiring than someone who is passionate about what they do. Taking a class with a good teacher will remind you why you love your art.

The bonus is that you will also be socializing with fellow creative beings and that is also almost always a catalyst for inspiration. Plus, who knows? Maybe your next creative project won’t be a solo one. Draw inspiration from working together with like-minded artists on a community project, painting meet-up or fundraiser for a common cause.

5. Make it about one color, black and white. Take a color and just play. It could be a single stick of charcoal or pastel or one tube of paint that you use to create marks with brush or palette knife or finger. Add white and black to put the color through its paces. As you reveal one color story, you will find more to tell.

Socialize yourself into inspiration

6. Create an idea journal. Every time you see a picture in a magazine that appeals to you, rip it out. Don’t ask yourself why. Put your clippings together in a sketchbook grouped by color theme, shape or any other common denominator.

When you’re feeling blocked, work from the journal by, for example, to:

+Create a painting to go in a room featured in a home decor magazine that you have cut out.

+Do a quick rendition of the first image that catches your eye, on the supplies you have on hand.

+Paint a flower inspired by a photo from a food magazine or garden catalog.

+Sketch half-formed ideas, or make notes about things you might want to do. If you don’t write it down, you’ll forget.

When you’re blocked, it’s the perfect time to flip through your idea journal and make one those ideas a reality. You can also make a digital idea journal. Just create a folder on your computer or phone and store screenshots and images as you surf the web.

Jot down your creative wishlist

7. Get out. Don’t beat yourself up over not being able to work. Go see a movie, read a book, visit a garden or spend time with a friend. Just keep your mind open for ideas. When you beat yourself up you’re too busy … beating yourself up … to notice all the inspiration that surrounds you.

8. Make a list of projects that you’ve always wanted to try. Remind yourself of the art, both big and small, that you have always wanted to make. Get excited about these creative projects all over again. Then close your eyes, twirl your finger and pick one.

9. Keep a block journal. Every time you feel blocked, write about it. Put all of your feelings out on paper. Sometimes it is scary to admit what you are feeling and why you are feeling it, but putting your thoughts down in this way is a safe way to let it all out.

Then, once you’re back on track, write down how you got there. What ignited your spark again and had you ready to create once more? This record, written for your eyes only, will give you the keys to your own inspiration and creativity. You might be surprised to look back and find all the things that work to help you topple your creative blocks!

Track what makes you tick — and what doesn’t

10. Kick your inner critic in the shins. Your inner critic is always looking over your shoulder or urging you to act a certain way or do certain things to be validated and accepted. Don’t play the compare game with yourself.

You can’t do your best work with one eye on the applause meter. The truth is that you need to work to please one person in the room — yourself.

When you feel those doubts creeping in, remember, you are the most important person here. If you don’t like the art you are making, don’t show it to anyone. Paint over it, burn the evidence. If you want to try something new, do it. No one is watching and judging you.

When you work to please yourself, the rest will take care of itself.

11. Discover your spontaneity with quick and fun watercolor illustrating. From all the things that are your favorite color to every type of chair you see to all the art supplies your eye spy’s, Danielle Donaldson shows you the ways to make them your muse in The Art of Creative Watercolor.

Source: https://www.artistsnetwork.com/magazine/overcoming-creative-blocks/

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Montilla.

Rafael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
“I always knew that I would dedicate myself to art.”

The visual artist reveals here the origin and purpose of his artistic work, which he assumes as an expression of his spirituality and his interest in science.

“Since I was very young, I have given great importance to two aspects that have defined my life: my inner search and my art. Thanks to my constant need to delve into myself, I have had the fortune to travel the world and be enriched by different cultures”, this is how visual artist Rafael Montilla explains the origin of his being and his making. He assures that his existence has developed around the search for oneself and artistic creation.

I have not always had the time to dedicate myself to art, but I have followed the teachings of my oil painting mentor, Lucio Rivas, who used to tell me:” If you do not have time to create the works, you should develop them in your mind. The day will come when you could execute them.”

When did you know that you really wanted to be an artist?
I always knew that I would dedicate myself to art. My girlfriend at that time – the nineties – also had the desire to do it since she, like me, was passionate about art. When we got married, we decided to focus on her artistic training. Odalis Valdivieso is nowadays a great conceptual artist. When we got divorced, I decided to retake my dream of becoming a visual artist and traced a ten-year plan that would allow me to create the work I am now proposing. My strategy was, first of all, to get myself known while developing my proposal. I am convinced that the moment to express and deliver everything that I have created within me, has arrived.

Rafael Montilla participated in 2012 in the collective exhibition “Unidos por el Arte”, and two years later he made his first solo show at the Hernán Gamboa Gallery, where he is currently coordinator and gallerist. That same year I started doing a series of exhibitions in Miami. One of them was called I Love Miami, for which I received in 2016 a proclamation that instituted the date (August 19th) as the ‘Day of Rafael Montilla’, recalls the artist.

Since then, Montilla increased its exhibition activity to the point that in 2017 he participated in 33 exhibitions. In December of that same year, he had his first appearance in Art Miami at Miami Art Fair.

This year, the artist has been present at art fairs in Las Vegas, New York, and Santa Fe, to which he was invited thanks to his Kubos street proposal. “The curator Anny Bello told me that it was time to be more selective when choosing where and with whom to exhibit. From there arose the opportunity to make my first individual at the Coral Gables Museum,” recalls the artist.

The strategy of taking the art to the street was of great help for the artist. “I am convinced that the street is my gallery. I always wanted to exhibit in public spaces, I did not want to do graffiti, because this form of urban expression is not well seen by many since it could damage the walls. The cubes I conceived could be placed on fences, and are easily removed, without damaging the environment. I have placed more than a hundred cubes in the Miami Dade, Broward County, Las Vegas, and New York areas,” says Montilla, who has been interviewed in local and foreign magazines and newspapers, and has exhibited in Miami, Caracas, Toronto, and Madrid.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nothing is easy. When we set a goal, there are obstacles that are nothing more than evidence to convince us if we really want to achieve it or not. In 1983 I had planned to travel to India for the first time, but one month before the trip the official currency of my country – Venezuela – was devalued. Although the prices doubled, I still managed to travel and stay in India for the three months I had planned.

And as for your proposal to take the art to the street?
It was difficult because it is not something well seen. My purpose was to beautify the city without creating problems or controversies. In the first attempts to do it in Wynwood, I felt very nervous and I even thought that I would not succeed. However, my commitment was stronger than my fear and I succeeded. Thus, the city of Miami became my gallery. Then I felt that I had to overcome what I had achieved until that moment and I created the 3D cubes, which I placed in very busy places. I installed them in certain places and left them there for 4 or 5 hours, always aware of what the results of that experience would be. Placed them in front of the Doral City Hall; on the beach of Miami Beach; in Mid Town; at the Ocean Drive park in Miami Beach; in front of the Coral Gables City Hall, and in other places where they were accepted both by the authorities and by passers-by. Many asks, why I do not get the necessary permits to place my installations and my answer is always the same: “Simply, because when asking for permits the magic disappears”.

What is the biggest obstacle you have faced?
The biggest obstacle one can face is oneself, our negative thoughts. For me, those thoughts are not relevant. Talent is not enough; it also takes courage, discipline, and work to achieve the objectives.

What do you want to contribute with your art? What is your mission as an artist?
I am interested in the internal value of the human being. My work is inspired both in esoteric fields such as spirituality and science, which I take into account to imbue them in my works with a sense of wisdom. I want to bring more clarity to the public conversation about what is happening in the world. People are immersed in a huge amount of information that they do not know how to give a meaning to their life, so they end up manipulated and focused on the external.

My mission, continues Rafael Montilla, “is to provide clarity to each of the observers who come across my works, especially in terms of focusing attention on himself. It is about wisdom, about mindfulness, about expanding our consciousness. It is about taking care of our mind and our body. It is about having control of emotional states. It’s about being conscious of humans. They will not all agree with my point of view and my answers, but I do not see any problem in it. What we should all agree on is to look for the answers inside: Who am I? How can I make this contemporary world better? I was inspired by the ideas of philosophers, spiritual teachers and visual artists who dedicated their lives to transformation by expanding their world from the inside out.”

And if I had to start over, what would I do differently?
I would not change anything of what I have done until today to reach my goals.