12 July, 2007

Atonement and Automatism

Atonement
Soft Pastel
7" x 5"
Casey Klahn


Many cuts from this blog made it in my new book/portfolio. Here's a new quote, though:



Gesture and intuition combine in my abstract art. Intuition, not intention. Color choices are simply not derived from nature, but from internal sources.

"Automatism" is an old term that could be applied here. Drawing for drawing's sake, without idea or content. Color has it's own intrinsic purposes and reasons - ideas of it's own.

Am I controlled by my medium? Perhaps, but no more than most.

What are my ideas? To express color as the dominant element in the formal qualities in painting. Color can be the strongest element, and I think that in this age we have yet to plumb it's complete depths. No content; no meaning. No subject, other than red and blue. Yellow, green...these are my subjects.



12 comments:

tlwest said...

I just LOVE Red!

Casey Klahn said...

Red rules. Its my favorite because I like both sides of red.
Working with Blue/Blue Green now, though.
Thanks for the comment, Terri.

Martha Marshall said...

I enjoy your writing very much, Casey.

Color is the most satisfying subject for me. But I have to say I am enjoying my ventures into texture.

Casey Klahn said...

Thanks, Martha. I appreciate kudos on writing since its not my forte. I guess some of that college writing knowledge (man, did I do a ton of writing in college!) is still there. I'm even to the point where I want an online resource for English rules.
The young who read here cannot imagine how we ancients here had to compose term papers by hand on 3x5 cards, and electric typewriters (Google them).
We had "harder times and longer days, (it was) five miles to school, uphill both ways!"
Now, I can't even remember the name of that little guide we used for English Grammar and form. I found a number of sources by Googling English rules for writing.
I lurk at your blog a lot, Martha. I have been enjoying your works with texture, too. The closest thing to that in the pastel world is probably what Susan Ogilvie is doing with her highly texturized supports.
It definitely is an area of interest and exploration for me.

Todd Camplin said...

I like the action and the colors. Is this an oil pastel work?

Philip said...

Very effective Casey. Do you ever work in other mediums - acrylic or oil for example?

Anonymous said...

The colors are great Casey! Colors mean so much to so many people. I think that colors represent emotions in alot of cases. Which would explain why painting helps those that are ill to express themselves. I wonder if they have done a study on that? They could take someone and put them in a room with bright colors painted on the walls. They could take another subject and put them in a room with really dull colors. Using electrodes, I'm sure they could test the emotional reaction. Interesting! Red is a wonderful color Casey. I always love your work! *HUGS*

Philip said...

Angela - Casey

I once had my personality analyzed by placing colours in order of preference. It was spot on!

Casey Klahn said...

Great to see Camplin posting here, and everyone have a look at his great blog (follow the links at his name or avatar).
My technique and support make the old-school soft pastel look creamy or liquid. They are actually dry pastels, which mankind has used since before the dawn of time. Sennelier cooked up oil pastels for Degas a little over a hundred years ago, and pastelists sneer at the young upstart medium. Not me, though. I do enjoy using oil pastels a little and have a couple that I did framed and hanging in the house. Someday I'll post them.

Philip, I have used the brush, mostly when I was quite a bit younger. I picked up some brushes, though, when I decided to go professional, and discovered that the learning curve would be too long. And, back to that "focus" of mine!
I truly do want to paint - probably oil - some day. But, I'll have to be a little more comfortable in my career and studio. Probably need the kids in school, too!

Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Angela. Maybe they could put a camera on the eyes and test rapid eye movement! We should be scientists in another life.

Casey Klahn said...

(Cue the Twilight Zone score music)
That story is spooky, Philip. How do they do that? Color preference of order?
They must have some DSMs (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals) that categorize each (must be hundreds)of color combinations. Cool stuff, but way over my head.

Jala Pfaff said...

I never saw this one before and just wanted to say how much I like it. It's very powerful.

Casey Klahn said...

Thank you, Jala!

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