Painting by Number

Disclaimer:

The objective components of an artwork, (or, competence within a technique) can be evaluated and measured. The subjective components of an artwork, such as aesthetic theme and philosophical viewpoint, are beyond any numeric analysis. In this design, I am attempting to categorize various techniques used by various painters within various 'schools' or 'movements' or on various individual "works of art".

I am limiting myself to common twentieth century western painting 'schools' because I am not versed in painting techniques beyond my casual interest in the performance art of Bob Ross. When you really aren't qualified to expound upon a subject, it is usually best to limit collateral damage by reducing the potential scope of your mistakes.

“Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.”
      — Pablo Picasso

Introduction

The Types below are presented as elements of a given painting rather than than absolute divisions of painting styles. An artist must use one or more of these Types to create a work of art, but classification of the finished product is a problem for the critics and should not be any concern of the original artist.

I'm sure that eight other Types could have been chosen (and likely will, "True Art" is seldom imitative), but if "art is whatever the artist says it is" my view must be considered as valid as any other, despite my lack of any bona-fide expertise.

In general, art can be classified using three dimensions. The first dimension is Internal / External. This relates to the amount of interpretation required by the viewer. The second dimension is Approximate / Precise. This relates to the degree of freedom available to the artist. The third dimension is Feeling / Thinking. This relates to the type of impact implicit within the work of art.

This design uses the following eight Types:

Abstract (Mental) Schools:

Expressionism

Throwing paint at a canvas. This is top dog because there is absolutely no way to do it 'wrong'. Therefore, (obviously) you should never buy Expressionistic art, you should always make it hot and fresh, all by yourself.

Expressionism is also a useful technique for adding naturalistic elements such as "blood splatter" to an otherwise purely representational image.

Impressionism

Painting the movement and 'feeling' of an event rather than the participants in an event. Ideally, the event should be almost immediately recognizable (although any participants in the event will often be completely anonymous).

"Speed lines" are the simplest application of Impressionism. The 'Chiba' in anime  presents the emotional state of a character by removing distracting detail (such as fingers) and thereby reducing that character to an iconic or symbolic representation.

Hard Cubism

Painting a scene as a collection of geometric shapes (not necessarily cubes) and not as participants in an event. This type is the source of 'perspective' and can also be used to create optical illusions.

Soft Minimalism

Minimalism presents the ultimate illusion of freedom.

Suggesting the parts of the foreground and background that are not well defined using the minimal number and complexity of brushstrokes. This occupies the 'chaos' spot because of the ease of failure and the lack of anything objective that can be used as a guide.

Minimalism is often used to 'fill in' the background within a painting.

Representational (Natural) Schools:

Surreal

Painting objects that do not exist and events that have not happened and yet making them as 'lifelike' and 'accurate' as possible. Architectural drawings fall into this category until the building is completed.

Cartoon

Creating allegorical caricatures of things which may or may not be possible. This Type tends to 'borrow' from all of the other types because it is usually more concerned with the message than the medium.

The "R. Mutt" Fountain is a three dimensional Cartoon.

Portrait

Painting the 'Personality' rather than just the appearance. Ideally, you should be able to look at a Portrait and tell if the subject enjoyed kicking his dog or just did it from a sense of duty.

Portraiture embodies flexibility, because sometimes you need to lie about the personality in order to earn the commission.

Landscape

This Type concerns purely photo-realistic art and not necessarily "Happy Little Clouds".

This block would require the Law and Art laths. That would put it somewhere in the #28 Specialization area. This design is part of Instrumentation's "Engineered Philosophy" series.

The terms are organized into four tables, each containing four sub-tables (or banks) which consist of sixteen cells. Each cell contains a command, a keyword or a link depending on usage.  The headings before the four tables below and the (unique) element combinations that define each sub-table's purpose show the Abstract divisions. The four dark rows within each table separate the the sub-categories or banks and contain the (repeating) four Representational element combinations that define the meaning of each individual cell.

This design only shows positive terms. Negative terms would be the opposite of each 'passive' term listed below. If the term is 'active', the negative form will invoke the function or be used to capture the state or current Value.

Cell #00 contains the name of this block of terms, it is used to create the Specialization "Table of Contents". If you select cell #00, you will lock-in this block of terms and you will need to unplug Command Mode to exit, even if these terms aren't commands. I can't think of a reason to select cell #00 that doesn't involve using the Table of Contents to lock-in this block of terms, so I don't see this as a problem.

The "Basic" sub-table is the default because that is where the most general tools, concepts and techniques used within any painting should be listed. I consider this to be the (most obviously) weakest part of this design. These are the "Left Hand Only" indices (#0[0-F]). The "Right Hand Only" indices are the first (#[0-F]0) Terms in each sub-table. Notice also that '5' and 'D' are the most awkward finger combinations so they are used for less critical events (ideally).

In the manner of Mondrian
(coloring in the boxes)

This design includes terms such as "Printmaking" which are not strictly related to "Oil on Canvas". I believe that these Terms concern things that have had impact upon and are still useful to painters regardless of their medium of expression. Tools and concepts that may be used by artists are also included for similar reasons.

The fourth table has both the Impressionism and Expressionism Types. This table contains Terms related to nonrepresentational art and other styles which are (allegedly) free and unfettered.

"There is only one difference between a madman and I. I am not mad."
            --- Salvador Dalí

The fourth sub-table (Reactionary Art) contains techniques which exist primarily to provide a counterpoint to other techniques. In essence they are inseparable parts of their avowed antithesis. (honestly, a surprisingly large portion of twentieth century art styles are mostly claiming to be protests against some damn thing or other)

Establishing my "Street Cred"

"Pittura est cousa mentale" (painting is a thing of the mind)
            --- Leonardo da Vinci

I'm sure some of you are thinking that I am a soulless monster who has no business intruding on the refined world of art. And, while I have to admit that your assessment of me is dead on the money, I prefer to think that anyone can create art as long as they present what they truly believe in the best form that they can manage.

So saying, here is my interpretation of the emotional journey to which we all are heir.

Just try to read that without squinting sympathetically
{oddly, adding a 'mouth' as a straight line actually intensifies each emotion}