My Three Favorite Artists
Choosing a favourite anything can be a challenge but when it comes to selecting favourite artists whose work has been influential on my own, there are so many to choose from. Picking the artists picking the artists was the easy part, identifying what it was about those artists work that inspires me was much more difficult.
A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to take part in the Melville Open Studios event. I had a fabulous weekend full of art, artists and art lovers and had many interesting conversations with new friends. One such conversation was with a lovely lady who asked me: If I had to pick three artists to label as my favourite or who have influenced me the most, who would they be? Well, this is the trickiest of questions – to narrow the field to just three and do justice to the many amazing artists that have influenced not just my work but the world in general, is nearly impossible but… I took a deep breath and had a go, and these are the three iconic female artists I came up with: Helen Frankenthaler, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Frida Kahlo. Let me tell you why…
Helen Frankenthaler pictured in her studio with some of her large colour field paintings.
Number One: Helen Frankenthaler
Helen Frankenthaler was a prominent Abstract Expressionist painter who rose to fame in the 1950s. Abstract Expressionism was a movement that emerged in New York City in the mid-1940s and lasted until the early 1960s. It was characterized by a focus on spontaneous, gestural mark-making, with an emphasis on the physical act of painting itself. Frankenthaler was known for her large-scale, boldly colourful works that blended elements of Abstract Expressionism and Colour Field painting. She often worked with expressive brushstrokes and by pouring and staining paint onto unprimed canvases, creating a sense of organic flow and spontaneity. If you ever see a painting that looks like a big, colourful stain, you might be looking at a Frankenthaler work.
This untitled work by Helen Frankenthaler (1928 to 2011) shows her distinctive and unique painting method.
Georgia O’Keeffe ‘Blue Morning Glories’ (1935).
Number Two: Georgia O’Keeffe
Georgia O'Keeffe, on the other hand, was a pioneer of American Modernism which emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the rapid changes brought about by industrialization and urbanization. Modernist artists sought to break free from traditional forms and explore new ways of representing the world. O'Keeffe gained fame in the 1920s and 1930s for her paintings of flowers, animal skulls, and other objects from the natural world. O'Keeffe's work often had a sense of abstraction, with forms reduced to their essential shapes and colours. She was also known for her close-up paintings of flowers, which celebrated the beauty and complexity of nature. If you ever see a painting of a flower that looks like it's been blown up to giant size, you might be looking at an O'Keeffe work.
Georgia O’Keeffe ‘Light Iris’ 1924. O’Keefe used Iris’s as the inspiration for many paintings.
Frida Kahlo in her studio working on ‘Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird’ 1940.
Number Three: Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter who gained fame in the mid-20th century for her vibrant, colourful, and deeply personal self-portraits. Kahlo's work is often associated with Surrealism, a movement that emerged in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s. Surrealist artists sought to tap into the subconscious mind and explore the world of dreams and fantasy. Kahlo's paintings often included dreamlike imagery, but she also drew heavily on her own experiences and struggles, including her chronic pain and her tumultuous relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera. She painted her heart both literally and figuratively.
Frida Kahlo, ‘Self Portrait’ 1940. This painting was dedicated to her medical advisor and lifelong friend Dr Leo Eloesser.
Why These Three Artists?
Buy why I hear you asking. Art is personal - the art you make, the art you collect, the art you love. Having said that, there are often threads that tie all of these together - if you look hard enough.
I admire these three women and their work because, despite their different styles and approaches, all three of these artists were ground-breaking in their own right and added to the rich history and cultural significance of art. Frankenthaler and O'Keeffe helped pave the way for future generations of female artists, while Kahlo's deeply personal work has continued to resonate with audiences around the world.
I guess if I had to find a link between them all and the reason why I count them as influences on my own work, it would have to be they’re quite differing but beautiful use of bold and vibrant colour. Colour is of great importance in my work and mixing colours is one of my greatest pleasures. It gets the creative juices flowing every time and is often a nice way for me to warm up before I start painting. I mix all my own colours from primaries, so the combinations are endless.
Who are your favourite artists and are there threads which connect them and resonate with your work or are there other reasons why you find them inspiring?
