2020 Topic 18 Geometric
Hello, Keren here with some introductory thoughts and images for our latest Geometric theme. Ask people about 'geometric style' and the chances are that they'll talk about modern, clean lines, sharp corners and a very structured form of art. Surprisingly, the art form in its origins is certainly not new and began on Grecian vases!
The Geometric style began around 900BC, was centred around Athens and had its market amongst wealthy city dwellers. The vase designs abandoned the previous love of circles and arcs and was superceded by triangles and zigzags and meanders. On the vases were horizontal bands framing angular patterns using the contrast of dark paint on light coloured vases. Fast forward to a period that some would link with geometric art; Cubism and the subsequent geometric abstract art popularised by Mondrian. Whatever its beginnings, 'geometric' has been a trend for a little while, eschewing fussy florals and busy cluttered rooms. Leaving the history aside, let's have a look at some current art to be found on the PaperArtsy blog:
Nikki Acton has created some wonderful baked texture art using geometric shapes (which aren't exactly the same as geometry nor geometric art (strictly speaking)), but you'll know by now how much I enjoy blurring the lines of definitions and as far as this topic goes, geometric, geometry and geometric art are all welcome here!
Alison Hall uses one of the more obviously geometric styled stamp sets in the PaperArtsy range by Ellen Vargo to make a fabulously stylish card.
Amanda Pink is known for her strong artistic style, and this is a perfect example of it. The linear style and geometric shapes fits perfectly into this topic.
Art is everywhere right? Even in car parks? I have visited this Charles Street car park in Sheffield, and despite it not looking like a car park (which opens up a debate I've often had with my architect Dad!), the way that geometric shapes are angled and positioned plays with the light hitting the surfaces and produces a functional building that is fascinating to view.
There's a preponderance of geometric styled art in home decor prints, but I thought this was clever, making use of negative space and more dominant colours to produce art that makes you gaze through it.
Peter Olexa has produced art and graphics, several with a geometric theme. These portraits are created entirely of straight lined shapes.
This cute specimen is made up entirely of triangles; a geometric shape is one that would remain the same no matter how much its rotated, increased or reduced. So this next example is definitely in keeping with our topic.
I adore this artist Elyse Dodge's interpretation of landscape using geometric shapes.
If you're a bullet journaller, or art journal doodler, you might appreciate the next piece of geometric styled art. He based it on the theme of 1001 Nights styled on Islamic Geometric design.
Art is beautiful when full of colour, but equally as striking when in only one colour. This artist uses gesso and acrylic paint.
Back in 2010 Eri Matsui designed a collection called Mathematics, Art and Fashion. A commentator described it as she imagined it could come out of a calculus book.
If we were able to hold a party currently, I could imagine this set up providing heartwarming ambience.
If you enjoy creating complex shapes in paper, you might take a leaf of Kota Hiratsuka's paper book. He is a Japanese specialist in mosaic origami and his geometric styled designs are breathtaking.
Watercolour and calligraphy are perfect partners. The softer look achieved by the medium gives a gentler feel to the more rigid lines.
Die-cutting is an easy way to get a geometric look without spending hours using a craft knife. These vibrant coloured examples could be made to look completely different dependent on the mediums used to colour them.
We come full circle, back to geometric pottery, but this time, a modern version using texture and simple lines.
Hopefully these diverse examples will get you thinking about big, bold and striking geometric design. If you want to create along with us, please share on our social feeds so we can see what you get up to. The best places are Instagram @paperartsy or post in PaperArtsy People Group on Facebook. Make sure you tag us in your contributions, we love to see what you get up to in your creative world!
3 comments:
So much to love
Exciting topic and amazing inspiration. So much scope for this
Great introduction, thanks Keren
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