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Revue by Everett Shinn, 1908, oil painting, 18 x 24. Everett Shinn was one
of the Ashcan School artists or "The Eight," which was led
by Robert Henri
and included Arthur B. Davies, William Glackens, Edward
Hopper,
Ernest Lawson,
George Luks, Maurice Prendergast,
and John French
Sloan.
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In
looking back through art
history, there are certain individuals who turned the artistic tide through
bold and unconventional ways of approaching painting. Although there were a
select few who had the power to do this on their own, most of the artists who
changed history did it with other artists by their side. The Hudson River
School painters, Russian Itinerants, Italian Macchiaioli, French
Impressionists, Ashcan School, and the Modernists are just a few examples of
groups who came together with similar aesthetics, philosophies on art, and
forward-thinking strategies to change the way painters, patrons, and the public
viewed fine art.
Those pioneers are remembered for
their courageous approaches and respected by contemporary painters for their
willingness to think outside the box and not conform to cultural or societal
dictates. In looking at our current artistic landscape, one sees several groups
in a similar vein beginning to join forces and take a stance against
contemporary ideals. But when I stand back and observe today's art world in the
context of what has come before and what's coming, I also see a select few who
are doing something very powerful and unique on their own, and speaking volumes
through the time and dedication they're investing in their craft. Those
individuals will likely find their way to others who have a similar vision and
sensibility in the coming years.
Until the time comes for them to
join together, what are the criteria for those who wish to stand apart and do
something of impact? In a recent interview with California artist Dan McCaw (featured in the September 2011 issue of American Artist), he shared some interesting thoughts on his own work
and the path he's taken to find his inner voice. Starting out as a practitioner
and teacher of traditional realism in the early 1970s and 1980s, McCaw today
paints in a style that seems to bridge the gap between traditional and modern
art. One of his main pieces of advice is to not be afraid of frustration or failure
as an artist, to keep going when you hit a block until you break through to
another level. "Some of my worst days of painting are my best days because I am
taking risks outside of my comfort zone and pushing past challenges to find
something original."
His other piece of advice is to
surround yourself with images and writings of the ones throughout history who
took chances and championed new ways of seeing and thinking. When I look at
those type of artists—Van Gogh, Vuillard, Henri, Hawthorne, and Klimt to name a
few—I notice how they first fought to find a style that was truly their own and
then banded together with other like-minded painters to break the mold and
change the course of art history. It's encouraging to see the ones who are
honing their skills, perfecting their craft, and finding their voice on their
own right now; and it will be exciting to see some of the those artists come
together to make a collective impact on art in the coming years.
--Allison
Allison Malafronte is the
senior editor of American Artist.