Monday, November 7, 2011

blah, blah, blah

In the film, "Joan Mitchell: Portrait of An Abstract Painter," the interviewer presses Mitchell to describe the meaning behind her paintings. Mitchell, in her pithy way, says this:

"When you add the blah, blah, blah to it, you've ruined the whole thing."
 Need I say more?

7 comments:

Jan Yates, SCA, Canada said...

doesn't look blah to me...

re statements-sometimes i think they help, although not so much with abstract- too many reasons to list here--a good topic-

Casey Klahn said...

I see the JM in this piece, Kvan! Someone brought a Joan Mitchell Pastels hardbound to the class in Oakland this weekend - it was a delight to see.

Note: I tried a JM inspired piece last week and it bombed - you have succeeded, here.

Cortni said...

I like this one! Very bright and cheery.

Cmichaudart said...

excellent post...a lot said with a little (in paint and print)

Kitty Wallis said...

This is me standing and clenching my hands overhead and yelling right on! to JM
Light and Bright piece.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Jan: I think that my need to explain comes more from my desire to control how a piece is seen. Best to leave it to the viewer and trust that s/he will see something that is meaningful to her/him.

Casey: I'm reading a lot about Joan Mitchell and now I've seen the film. She says that she paints the light. If I've done that, I've succeeded for sure!

Cortni: thanks!

Cindy: sometimes less is best.

Kitty: yes! Right on, JM!

Anonymous said...

good one, I totally agree!