Received 5 Star Artist Award

I am happy to accept a 5 Star Artist Award for outstanding artistic talent .  The judges took into consideration: quality, competence, artistic talent, attitude, approach and more.

Jaison Cianelli, 5* rated by AllBuyArt.com Art Award
“AllBuyArt.com, wall art paintings the consumer can trust!”

Jaison Cianelli has been awarded an AllBuyArt.com 5* Rating for his artwork. Jaison has demonstrated the right approach to his art and produces quality paintings which deserve the attention of the art loving public. – www.allbuyart.com

Contemporary Paintings, Modern Art, Abstract Art – What’s the Difference?

This is a basic question, and a little confusing to answer because the terms “contemporary,” “modern,” and “abstract” can be used interchangeably at times.  Let us start with “modern art.”  Modern art is a classification of an art period that started around 1870 by Impressionists like Claude Monet.  It is understood that modern artists are those who experimented with new ways of seeing, expressing new ideas and methods.  But technically the modern art movement ended around the 1960’s and 70’s when the term “postmodern” started to be used and pop art became the new thing.

Abstract art is a style of painting a departure from reality and was definitely modern at the time.  Abstraction in paintings started to make the scene right around the same time modern art became known because it is a painting style classified in the modern art movement.  But full blown abstract paintings really started appearing early 1900’s in Europe by the likes of Pablo Picasso and others in the cubism movement.  Abstract art really was not created in America until the 1940’s in the abstract expressionism movement with Jackson Pollock at the helm.  Because abstract art is a style of painting and not a classification of an art period, abstract paintings are still being created today.

And that brings us to right now. Right now we use the term “contemporary” to define artwork as being created in our lifetime or in the current present moment.  So any paintings being created right now are contemporary paintings no matter what the style.  What has happened is that people generally use “contemporary art” to describe artwork from the 1970’s until now.  It is hard, if not near impossible to define a period while we are living in it.  One might wonder, will we always use the word “contemporary” to describe the artwork being created in the present moment?  Or will there be an end to the use of the word “contemporary” signifying an end of another artwork period very similarly to how “modern” was used.  I don’t know.  But in any case, I hope this information has helped and not confused you even more.

Question And Answers For Students

I have been receiving emails from students studying art.  Many of them are writing specific essays.  I feel blessed to be able to inspire or help out other artists. I thought it would help to include some of my answers here at my blog.

What artist influenced you growing up?
My two favorite artists growing up were Jackson Pollock and Bob Ross.  Two totally different artists that I watched on camera and mimicked.

Where do your concepts come from?
My expression and artistic concepts come from all over – the colors of a sunset, an amazing work of art, music, my wife, the colors in my flower bed, an intimate curiousity with the way paint moves and mixes, crashing waves, a peaceful river, a love for life, etc.

Are your paintings planned?
Sometimes a painting is planned and the process goes smoothly.  Sometimes a painting is not planned and the painting (colors and/or subject matter) changes drastically.  Actually you will notice many layers of texture in certain paintings, these are the ones that went through an evolution of changes (some stages are very ugly).  But in the end they take on a unique personality that could never be duplicated.

What is your studio like?
My work space is a studio I pieced together in my basement.  I paint on a large wallpaper table.  I have a stereo near by so I can paint to music.  I have plans of building a barn style studio space on my property. I just have to finish building the chicken coop first

How much time do you spend on art?
Time spent on art depends on the weather and obviously the timing of all things in life.  But I’m a full time artist and paintings can sometimes take weeks. I’m gearing up to get my work in many galleries along the east coast.  If it’s raining or snowing I generally paint.  On the sunny days, sometimes I will bring a canvas outside and experiment, but generally I do other things on nice days.

When did you decide you would become an artist?
When I was young, somewhere around 6 years old, I won a drawing contest.  I drew my dad at his work or something like that.  I think I got a basketball as the prize.  But I remember thinking since then that I would be an artist.

Besides art what else are you interested in?
Besides art, I love to garden, play my guitar, hike, spend time with my wife and our dog, or help out at the farm next door.  I’m married to a veterinarian, and believe it or not, she’s the one that tells me if a painting is good or bad.

Work in Progress – Abstract Landscape Painting

I have begun working on what resembles another abstract waterfall painting.  As you can tell I love the way paint pours onto the canvas. The initial stages are the most fun.  I let the paint freely flow and allow my mind to quickly visualize and create the subject matter in real time.  This part of the abstract painting process is the easiest.  Rapid visualization is the most natural for me.  Allowing the colors and glazed layers to all come together in harmony, well that’s not always the easiest.  Much depends on patience, paint removal, and acquiring a state of mind where the richness of color, texture, and subject matter can clearly be expressed.

Revisiting a “Simple” Painting

Simple
Original medium: Acrylic on Canvas ©2007
www.cianellistudios.com

Occasionally someone will comment on one of my paintings.  And occasionally I think back and recall what was going through my head when I created it.  Simple is one such painting.  And to be perfectly honest, I don’t think a whole lot was going through my head when I created this one.  :)  But really, I think that was the whole point.  A sunset is beautiful.  A sunset is fun.  It’s all very simple.  And taking a cue from nature, to live simply is a great way to go through life.  By the way, this contemporary art painting is available for purchase.  Please feel free to make an offer.

Purchase Prints From FineArtAmerica.com

You can now purchase beautiful, museum-quality prints of my artwork at FineArtAmerica.com.   Select from paper or canvas – framed, stretched, or rolled in a tube. Prints are professionally assembled and shipped.  100% of the profits go to me (the artist) and not somebody else.  

 

2009 Florence Biennale Art Exhibit Invitation

I am pleased to announce that I received an invitation to exhibit my artwork at the 2009 Florence Biennale art exhibit. The Internal Committee expressed “favorable opinion” for my participation.  

The Florence Biennale is an international contemporary art exhibition held every two years in the Historical Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy. The Biennale is run by Arte Studio, whose first contemporary art exhibition occurred in 1986. Subsequent exhibits grew, and they eventually formed the first Biennale in 1997…According to Arte Studio, in 2007 there were 840 artists from 76 countries, and over 17,000 visitors.  [Source Wikipedia.org ]

Abstract Landscapes – Painting From The Inner Light

The Impressionists were a genre of artists from the 19th century whose intent was to capture the effects natural light had on the landscape. To achieve this, they set their easels up outdoors.  They called themselves “en plein air” artists which is a French expression that means “in the open air.”  Some believe that painting outdoors expresses nature in a fuller way and allows the artist to capture the needed vibrancy and spontaneity in their work.  Today the contemporary landscape artists are very much still “en plein air” artists, but there are a group of landscape artists that, while painting indoors, paint a light from a slightly different source.

These landscape artists tend to create work that is abstract or slightly abstract.  And to understand their source of light, you have to understand the abstract artist.  The abstract artist has a painting style that is all together very different.  The general consensus is that the abstract artist paints from within where there is more emotional and expressive energy.  So if indeed these artists are painting a light source it would make sense that they are painting not the natural light on the outer world, but an expression of the inner light from within.  

Artists and critics have yet to classify all the genres of abstract art.  So at this present time there does not appear to be a classification for abstract artists painting “the light from within.”  But what does it really mean to paint this way?  

First of all, not every abstract landscape artist attempts to paint an obvious light source within their work.  And, those that do are generally unaware as to why they are doing it other than the fact that it may look intriguing.  But considering what the light source represents from those abstract landscape artists that have spoken about it, it is something very soulful and connected with the individual.  One way to explain it would be to say the light represent their our own souls connection with its source.  

You see, without trying to re-create reality, some abstract landscape artists go within themselves to reveal on the canvas an essence of nature and also the source of nature, all while they are aware that the two are a part of themselves.  The end result is something they consider spiritual, uplifting, or possibly healing.  Of course, this is not to say that “en plein air” artists do not have these same emotions when painting, it’s just a different way to express the light source.

Abstract Painting & The Need For Expression

Jackson Pollock

As human beings we create nothing of our own, but only partake in the great creative process as conduits.  So the creative position of the artist is a humbling one.  The artist is essentially a channel.  This can’t be any more obvious than in the abstract expressionist artist.  

As you probably know, abstraction indicates a departure from reality.  The need to produce and be a part of something other than the “real world” is a natural desire especially in bad times.  In Europe before the 19th century abstract art wasn’t even considered art.  And it wasn’t until World War II that the Americans considered the idea or perhaps just found a need for this form of expression.   Jackson Pollock was at the helm of this new direction later called abstract expressionism.

While caught in the moment, an abstract artist is often times unaware of just exactly what he or she is creating.  Exploration, uncertainties, and emotions all play out on the canvas.    Pollock once said, “My method of painting is a natural growth out of a need.  I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them.”  So for the expressionist, the visual outcome is important, but so too is the entire action of painting.  The action is like therapy for some – a means to channel feelings that need to be expressed for whatever the reason.

People question whether abstract art is actually fine art.  It’s hard for some to get past the sometimes care-free appearance and non traditional methods of applied paint and foreign matter. But at the same time there is a huge following.   Perhaps the intrigue comes from a simple truth  – that abstract art is a very raw and unique visual language, appealing both in its form and substance from which it came.

“Autumn Falls” Abstract Landscape – Sold

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This semi-abstract painting, Autumn Falls, was sold to a law firm in Florida.  I’ll be working on another abstract painting of waterfalls for my next piece.   To purchase a print visit FineArtAmerica.com