Compare & Contrast

My recreation of Mark Rothko’s abstract expressionist is finished and I attempted to improve the emotional reaction and focal prowess, but each of those things should be left to real artists like Rothko. I tried to use similar colors from Rothko’s original, but it proved too difficult to recreate the oil colors using colored pencils. I also kept the theme of rectangular shaped boxes to maintain some unity. However instead of keeping the boxes solid in color, I added a sunset scene in the bottom two boxes to give the viewer something to focus on. I added birds flying across the upper third of the composition to add motion. There is also a slight hint of yellow ripples in the bottom rectangle that is supposed to represent the sunset reflecting off the ocean. I’m not a traditional artist, but I found it interesting to attempt to expound upon another artists finished work. I started out not liking Rothko’s piece, but by the time I finished this assignment, I had found a deep appreciation for the piece. It proved far more difficult to improve this painting than I had expected and I now understand it’s simplistic nature.

Work in Progress

Objective Critique

This oil on canvas piece by Mark Rothko is an abstract expressionist painting that combines a bold use of warm colors with the use of large rectangular shapes. Two of the shapes are a mixture of orange and yellow while the top shape is closer to yellow, but each of the shapes are longer than they are tall. The background is a primarily red with a light dusting of white flaked throughout the painting. Rothko uses shapes to create proportion in this piece. This can be seen in the use of variation in the size of each rectangle to ensure there is adequate focus distributed among the focal area. He uses shape to create unity. This can be seen in that the composition is created using three rectangular shapes that are each different heights, as they get closer to the top of the painting. Rothko uses space to create a sense of unity. The red background space is the glue that holds this piece together and without it, would feel more disjointed. Rothko does use the Elements of Art and Principles of Design effectively in this piece.

Subjective Critique

Looking at this oil on canvas painting by Mark Rothko, I felt next to no emotions. I didn’t feel excited, I didn’t feel sad and I couldn’t tell what or where I was supposed to look. I feel art should evoke an emotional response from its viewers, but I felt none of that when I look at this painting.

Three reasons you don’t like it: There are a few reasons I’m not fond of this painting. First, there is nothing that anchors my attention. I see three thick lines/boxes, but not one that stands out more than the others. The top line is a different color than the other two, but my eyes wander around the painting looking for a subject. Second, I’m not fond of the method the medium (oil) was applied to the canvas. It looks sloppy and hurried. The top line doesn’t look completed and the base layer looks like it’s pealing. Lastly, art should stimulate one of the senses in some way, but this painting fails to stimulate any of my senses. The colors are almost pleasant, but the top shade of yellow/green is an eyesore.  The shapes are almost interesting, but don’t add enough contrast. The background has an interesting texture, but has no separation from the foreground objects other than a slight color change. This painting evokes no emotions, there is nothing to anchor my attention and it appears poorly rendered. 

To change this image, I would fix a few issues. The most important aspect I would add would be a focus point; there needs to be something to look at. This focus point could be duel purpose. It could be a point for the eyes to converge and also help evoke an emotional response from the viewer.  Since the colors are similar to a sunset, I might use the color palatte and style, but reorganize it into a rendering of a landscape sunset scene.