ana, you, Chris, and Angel are lovely-hitting the heart of [my] aesthetic
joys!  I appreciate your views and "views" so much.

I agree with you, ana, that for the most part b/w photos seem superior to
colour ones.  It's a mystery as to why.  The Italians' chiaroscuro painting,
like so many marvelous Italian inspirations, seems to grasp the yin-yang of
b/w.  You and Chris suggest the import of b/w; it must be a deeply
psychological/emotional springboard in us.  And, yes, the tie of calligraphy
[a deeply respected High Art in China] and brush painting [often with
calligraphic poems---another High Art---traveling down the side of the
painting] taps that font of emotion in us.  That arts-tie reminds me that
the sounds of Chinese speech frequently mimic the sounds of Chinese musical
instruments.

On another aspect of artworks, last night as I contemplated several
favourite contemporary paintings of artists I "know" from their works, I
realised that their interpretation of light was key----*no matter the
subject*.  One painter in particular, Bethann Wilson, translates the most
ordinary, even downright ugly, subjects/objects into light/colour that, like
the best poetry, stun-softens a viewer with deep and immediate
senses/emotions recognition.  I think of this as one of perhaps three
"fundamentals" of best poetry----the other two being metaphor, which
painting itself is, and musicality.

Here are two of my many favourite Bethann Wilson's works, "Cellar" and
"Beauty Parlor Self Portrait" [click on thumbnails for complete views]:
http://www.bethannwilson.com/an_exploration_in_oil.html

Angel, now you've made me brave enuff to cut into a recent-bought rubber
"page" for an image to ink and smack onto paper!  I loved doing a linocut
years ago, and wanted to do as an illustrator showed me, as well:  make a
small image by incising on a simple eraser. Great-looking stuff, hers!

Best,

Judy



On 1 January 2003 00:00, Ana Olinto <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> actually, i prefer black and white photos.
> i think 90 or at least 80% of *all* photos should be black and white.
>
> ana
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Jones" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 7:53 AM
> Subject: Re: East Asian painting
>
>
>
>  On Wed, 2003-01-01 at 09:55 -0200, Ana Olinto wrote:
>>
>>> china is the only culture where painting was, from almost
>>> the beginning (tang, and then even more with the sung),
>>> seen and reflected as the most noble of human activities
>>> (actually the most noble was calligraphy, but painting is
>>> an extention from it.)
>>>
>>
>> Judy also,  the cross media (image and text) would interest you, and
>> thanks for the replies and links.
>>
>> Chinese landscape also has a long monochrome landscape painting
>> tradition along with multiple viewpoints. On top of this is cross media;
>> poetry, painting and calligraphy.
>>
>> Perhaps linked to this is the way that recent Chinese photography
>> considers monochrome to be a recent and new media. Unlike a western view
>> that considers black and white old fashioned and nostalgic. (Some of my
>> film come from Shanghai.)
>>
>> What is happening here, perhaps, is a return or reinforcement of
>> monochrome photography as new media. Black and white then is not left
>> behind as a nostalgic fancy. It could be said black and white
>> photography returns as always new. This link between Modernist
>> poetics/aesthetics from the West and continental Europe and Chinese
>> aesthetics seems worth following up on. Also, Haiku and bonsai. (Popular
>> western bonsai also over codes bonsai with a western aesthetic.)
>>
>> best Chris Jones.
>>
>


-- 
Frisky Moll Press:  http://judithprince.com/home.html

"I can't read my library card."  ---Jeff Hecker, Norfolk, VA