Summary:
The purpose of this paper is to explore how expressive oil painting can become a reflection of real life and a carrier of the artist's subjective emotions, as well as the creative thinking embodied in this process. First, this paper analyzes how real-life materials are processed and deformed by the artist's subjective consciousness, and then transformed into an artistic language with strong personality. Subsequently, the article emphasizes the importance of individuality and creative thinking in the contemporary art environment, which not only enriches the artistic expression, but also deepens the ideological connotation of the work.
I. Introduction
In the long river of art, expressive oil painting, as an art form full of emotional tension, has always carried the artist's unique insights into the world and the intuitive expression of inner emotions. Impressionism challenged the traditional rules of realism and opened the door to the freedom of artistic expression, and expressive oil painting gradually became an important carrier for exploring individual emotions and psychological states. It not only records the diversity of the human spirit under the changes of the times, but also continues to promote the innovation of artistic language and expression.
In contemporary society, with the integration of globalization and diverse cultures, expressive oil painting has been given a new mission: as a bridge of cross-cultural communication, it not only reflects the artist's personal subjective world, but also reflects a wide range of social issues and cultural conflicts, and its historical status and contemporary value are self-evident.
Subjective consciousness, as the core of artistic creation, is the direct embodiment of the artist's personality and creativity. It goes beyond pure visual representation and turns to the true expression of inner emotions and the excavation of spiritual depth. In expressive oil painting, the free expression of subjective consciousness prompts the artist to break the shackles of form, use color, line, composition and other elements to construct a unique emotional space, and establish a deep emotional resonance and exchange of ideas with the audience, which is essential to enhance the appeal and lasting value of the artwork.
2. The Historical Evolution of Subjective Consciousness Expression in Painting Art
A. Classical to Modernism: The Transition from Objective Representation to Subjective Representation
From the Renaissance to the early 19th century, Classicist and Neoclassical painting pursued precise physical representations and idealized aesthetic standards, and artists worked to imitate nature, emphasizing perspective, anatomical accuracy, and the harmony of the picture. However, artists of this period had already subtly incorporated personal emotions and subjective understandings into their works, such as Caravaggio's bold use of light and shadow, which foreshadowed the tendency of later expressive art.
By the middle of the 19th century, with the rise of Romanticism, artists began to pay more attention to the direct expression of emotions, and subjectivity became more and more pronounced on the canvas. The birth of Impressionism marked a major turning point, as they abandoned the traditional rules of light and color in favor of capturing the subjective sensation of momentary changes in light and shadow, such as Monet's "Water Lilies" series, which exemplifies the fusion of subjective consciousness with natural scenes.
In the 20th century, the modernist movement completely subverted the traditional concept of art, and artists were no longer satisfied with the faithful depiction of the external world, but turned to the exploration of the inner world and the direct expression of emotions. Cubism, Futurism and other avant-garde schools, through decomposition, reorganization and other forms of experimentation, show different angles of observing the world, reflecting the artist's unique interpretation of reality. In particular, Kandinsky's abstract art, he advocated that art should express inner emotions and spiritual essence, rather than external forms, which laid a theoretical foundation for the subjective expression of expressive oil painting.
B. The Rise of the Expressionist Movement and the Release of Subjective Emotions
Expressionism developed rapidly in Europe in the early 20th century and became the climax of the release of subjective consciousness. This movement rejects traditional aesthetic norms and emphasizes the direct and intense expression of the artist's personal emotions, as well as a deep reflection on social and psychological states. German Expressionist painters such as Emil Nolde and Franz Marc showed inner tension, pain or ecstasy through distorted images and exaggerated colors, and their works were not only an innovation in visual art, but also a profound analysis of the social contradictions and individual psychological struggles of the time. The practice of expressionist artists proves that art is not only a representation of the external world, but also a direct reflection of the inner spiritual world.
C. A New Exploration of Subjective Consciousness from a Postmodern Perspective
The rise of postmodernism has opened up a broader world for the expression of subjective consciousness. During this period, the boundaries of traditional art were blurred, and artistic creation was no longer limited by a single style or narrative logic, and artists used collage, appropriation, and satire to explore complex themes such as multiple identities, cultural conflicts, and gender roles. In the field of expressive oil painting, the works of postmodern artists such as David Sully and Julian Schnabel often contain a deconstruction and reinterpretation of traditional art, showing the diversity and fluidity of subjective consciousness through mixed media, images and words.
In addition, feminist and minority artists have increasingly strengthened their voices, challenging the mainstream narrative with their unique perspectives and experiences, and presenting a richer and more diverse subjective world, thus promoting the continuous expansion and deepening of expressive oil painting in terms of themes and forms. In the postmodern context, the expression of subjective consciousness has become a powerful tool for self-reflection, cultural criticism and social dialogue, making artistic creation more open, inclusive and challenging.
3. The influence mechanism of real life on subjective consciousness
A. Life experience and emotional accumulation
Life experience is the source of the artist's creation, and every emotional touch and every shock to the soul is a valuable material for the formation of subjective consciousness. The emotional experiences that artists accumulate in their daily lives are like colorful paints, adding a rich emotional layer to their canvases.
Van Gogh's The Starry Night, for example, is deeply rooted in his profound experience of the night in Arles in the south of France, where the swirling starry sky and bright blocks of color are a visual expression of his inner gratitude. The joy, sorrow, loneliness and even despair in life are all precipitated and fermented in the depths of the artist's soul, and finally transformed into brushstrokes and colors on the canvas, and the accumulation and release of this emotion form the basis for the emotional communication in expressive oil painting.
The role of the social environment and cultural context
As external conditions, the social environment and cultural background play a non-negligible role in the formation of the artist's subjective consciousness. Different historical periods, regional cultures, and social atmospheres will leave an imprint on the artist's works. For example, Xu Beihong, a master of Chinese oil painting, integrated profound national emotions and the characteristics of the times into his works, reflecting the changes in society and the spiritual outlook of the people at that time.
The turbulence or stability of the social environment, the openness or conservatism of the culture, will stimulate or limit the artist's desire for expression, and affect his perception of life and value judgment. In addition, the cultural background also provides a rich symbol system and symbolic language, which helps artists construct artistic images with specific cultural significance, and makes the expression of subjective consciousness more profound and diverse.
C. Mapping of personal experiences to psychological states
Personal experience is like a mirror, reflecting the artist's unique psychological state and spiritual world. Each artist's life trajectory, educational background, interpersonal relationships, etc., will leave traces in his works and become an important element of his subjective consciousness expression. For example, Frida Kahlo's paintings incorporate a lot of her personal painful experiences – car accidents, illnesses, and love setbacks – that translate into vivid self-portraits that intuitively reveal her inner world.
The artist's psychological state, such as mood swings, personality traits, and even subconscious fantasies, are displayed on the canvas in the form of metaphors or straightforwardness, making the work a reflection of the individual's psychological journey. Through artistic creation, artists are not only recording life, but also analyzing themselves, realizing psychological catharsis and healing, which promotes the innovation of thinking and the development of artistic language.
To sum up, there is a close and complex interaction between real life and subjective consciousness. Life experience provides the soil for emotional accumulation, social environment and cultural background shape the artist's vision and expression framework, and personal experience and psychological state are the most direct embodiment of subjective consciousness. These factors are intertwined and act together in the creation of expressive oil paintings, promoting the artist's continuous exploration in emotional communication and thinking innovation.
Fourth, the way of subjective consciousness expression in expressive oil painting
A. The Language of Color: Mood and Atmosphere
Color is the most direct and strong emotional carrier in expressive oil painting, which transcends the objective representation of the real world and becomes the direct projection of the artist's inner emotions. The artist uses non-naturalistic use of color, such as exaggeration, contrast, and symbolic color combinations, to create a specific emotional atmosphere, guiding the viewer into the subjective emotional space they have constructed.
For example, blue may be used to convey melancholy and serenity, red can symbolize passion or danger, and yellow is often associated with happiness and hope. Van Gogh used a vivid and warm yellow color in the "Sunflowers" series, not only to depict the color of flowers, but also to express his love of life and desire for light. This linguistic function of color enables the artist to transcend the boundaries of speech and achieve deep emotional resonance with the viewer.
B. Composition and Form: Unconventional Visual Storytelling
Composition and form play a key role in reconstructing reality and conveying deep meaning in expressive oil painting. Through unconventional layouts, such as distortions, deformations, exaggerated forms and free deconstruction of spatial perspective, the artist breaks the viewer's expectations and leads them to explore the psychological dynamics and emotional logic behind the works. This kind of innovation in visual storytelling often goes beyond the limitations of physical reality and more directly touches on the inner experience shared by human beings.
For example, Edvard Munch's "The Scream", through the distorted human form and the unusual use of color, constructs a strong psychological tension, conveying the inner uneasiness and fear of modern people. The creative use of composition and form has become an effective way for artists to break through conventions and express their unique subjective consciousness.
C. Brushstrokes and textures: the transmission of emotional intensity and dynamics
The thickness, lightness, heaviness, speed and texture of the brushstrokes are the subtleties that show the artist's emotional intensity and dynamic changes in expressive oil painting. Through the directness of brushstrokes, the artist directly transfers his emotional state and mental state at the time of creation to the canvas, forming a visual "brushstroke language". Bold and powerful brushstrokes may suggest a fierce inner conflict, while delicate and soft brushstrokes may reveal calm or sad emotions.
For example, the German expressionist painter Franz Marc uses bold and rhythmic brushstrokes in his works to not only depict natural scenes, but also convey the celebration of vitality and the pursuit of natural harmony. The treatment of texture, such as impasto, scratching, and the application of mixed media, further enriches the emotional depth and tactile feeling of the picture, so that the work has a multi-dimensional experience that goes beyond the visual. Through the ingenious combination of brushstrokes and textures, expressive oil painting can contain a dynamic flow of emotions in a static picture, and realize the profound expression and transmission of subjective consciousness.
5. Strategies to overcome creative mindsets
A. Observation and Perception Training: Inspiration Capture in Everyday Life
To overcome the mindset in creation, the first thing is to cultivate a keen sense of observation and perception. Artists should learn to find extraordinary inspiration in the ordinary details of daily life, which requires them to maintain a curious and sensitive heart, and to maintain a high level of attention and deep reflection on their surroundings.
For example, through diaries, sketches or photography, capturing those fleeting moments of life, whether it is a smile on the street, a fallen leaf in nature, or a beam of light and shadow in the city, are all potential creative sparks. Regular training like this helps artists to develop a creative perspective in their daily lives, transforming seemingly ordinary things into sources of artistic expression, thus breaking the established thinking framework and stimulating new creative ideas.
B. Technique Experimentation and Cross-border Integration: Broadening the Means of Expression
The continuous experimentation of techniques and the integration of cross-disciplines are important ways to break the bottleneck of creation and expand the expression techniques. Artists should have the courage to experiment with new materials, techniques or media, such as combining traditional oil painting with digital art and installation art, or incorporating elements of other art forms such as printmaking and sculpture into oil painting, so as to explore the new boundaries of expressive oil painting.
In addition, learning artistic techniques from different cultural backgrounds, such as the blank space and artistic conception of Oriental ink painting and the primitive power of African tribal art, can also inject new vitality into the works. Cross-border collaborations are also an effective way to broaden horizons, and collaborations with experts in other fields, such as scientists and musicians, can spark unexpected creative encounters and promote the innovation of artistic language. Through continuous experimentation and integration, artists are able to discover more possibilities for self-expression and avoid falling into a single creative mode.
C. Psychological Adjustment and Creative Stimulation: Activation of Inner Motivation
In the process of artistic creation, the artist's inner state directly affects the emotional depth and innovation of the work. Therefore, psychological adjustment and creative stimulation are indispensable parts of overcoming stereotypes. This includes regular self-reflection, understanding and accepting your emotional ups and downs, and adjusting your mindset through meditation, yoga, etc., to maintain peace and openness of mind. In addition, participating in art workshops, seminars, and exchanging ideas with peers can be inspired and skills improved, and it is also an important source of self-worth and social identity.
Another effective way to spark creativity is to set up regular "creative challenges", such as completing a theme piece within a time limit and randomly selecting elements to combine to create, which can force artists to step out of their comfort zone and stimulate latent creativity. Eventually, through the activation of internal motivation, the artist can continue to explore the unknown on the road of creation, and realize the continuous growth and transformation of his personal style.
VI. Conclusion
As a bridge between the real world and inner emotions, the creative process of expressive oil painting profoundly reveals the dynamic interaction between real life and subjective consciousness. Real life provides artists with a rich library of materials, including social phenomena, natural landscapes, individual experiences, etc., which are all direct sources of emotional triggers.
Subjective consciousness is like a prism, filtering and reconstructing these realistic materials, and transforming them into an artistic language with a personal imprint through the artist's unique perspective and emotional color. This process not only shows the artist's perception and reaction to objective reality, but also deeply reflects their inner world, values and philosophical reflections. Therefore, real life and subjective consciousness penetrate and interact with each other in the creation of oil paintings, jointly shaping the uniqueness and depth of the works, and realizing the subjective interpretation and emotional transmission of the external world.
Author: Lu Xilin
Bibliography:
Aesthetic Research on the Language of Oil Painting
Art and Visual Perception
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