Colour experiments - Green Fireworks

This effort was a follow through from Fallen and Embers. It has more in common with Embers, but was actually inspired by a piccy that I found right next to the piccy that inspired Fallen :D

Green Fireworks, acrylic on board, approx. 300 x 300 mm.

I was angry and continually distracted by the children while doing this, so it was done fast and not with the care I normally give a piece due to time constraints. There was much frustration and mumbling under my breath as I struggled to get it done. I didn't give the subject what it was due and technically speaking it is not completely finished as I haven't painted the sides of the board as yet.

So my impression of it is currently stained with my emotional state at the time. I will have to put it away and get it out later to determine fully whether I think it works or not.

Speaking of emotion...

I'm considering starting a new challenge.

I've been thinking about hosting a challenge here for some time, simply because I'd like to contribute to this wonderful creative blogosphere, but there are so many challenges out there, it has taken me some time to think of one that would add some value to participants rather than just repeating something that is already out there.

This is my idea...

Many of us sell our work (not me yet, simply because I don't have any to sell), some of us just create because we were born to do it, would likely die if we didn't, and just like to share what we've done (I'm in this camp), and some of us are in both camps. In any case, we all like people to look at our art, maybe comment or give that dash of feedback, or simply feel what we wanted them to feel, know what we wanted to communicate.

I recently read an article somewhere, can't remember where, about why people buy art. The main point made was that the buyer needs to have an emotional connection to the work in order to even consider purchase.

So how do we get those who see our work into an emotional state that will have them remarking, commenting, telling their friends, or handing over their money?

I propose we exercise and experiment with this idea. I'm thinking of setting an emotion, a reaction, or a state of mind to generate in those who see your art. For example, you can make a person feel sad with the right imagery and mood in an art piece like rain, morose faces, or you can generate fond memories with images of children at the beach or playground or something you think you and your audience might have in common. Heh, our kitchen tap drips. It is the most irritating sound on the planet to me, so if anyone develops a sculpture housed in a silent room with a tap that drips at just the right speed, they could inspire a whole pile of violent emotions in me :D

So what do you think? If I post a challenge, say, once a fortnight (or maybe a month? This one requires more brainpower than I have available in only a week, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to pull off successful artwork for this myself, so extra time is needed). And we can see if we can generate the right response in our audience and ourselves. This would also be a great opportunity for honest feedback on this aspect of art between challengers, because we all need to learn.

It should also be noted that I would like all the responses suitable for mature audiences, but not delve into the depths of NC-17 (or R18+) as it would be easy to fall into that trap with emotionally strong content. Advertisers do it every day without breaching those lines on TV, so we can do it too.

So do you think you can make your audience love, hate, cry, grin, laugh, remember, groan, wonder?

Nutty
(always full of ideas)