Emotion in Paintings - What Does That Mean?
journey with the artist to discover and create art with emotion
How do we know if a painting holds emotion?
In my view, it is not by analysing how a painting was made—the colours, the forms, or the brushwork- it is why the artist painted it - what was the feeling they wanted to express? When you connect with a painting linger a while and ask yourself why you are interested, emotion is revealed when a painting connects with the viewer, it goes way beyond description. If it holds attention for reasons beyond technique or description then it carries emotion. The viewer is not concerned with the transparency of a watercolour, the car, barn or street scene may entertain for a short while but a lasting connection is when they are absorbed - the work has stirred something personal and felt. That is an emotion and it stirs on each observation.
From realism to abstraction, all art can move us
We are familiar with paintings of recognisable subjects—boats, buildings, trees, animals, and of course people. These representational works can hold emotion that a viewer connects with—or they may not. Realism can be art with feeling rather than simple description, but only when the artist seeks to move the viewer. For many painters, technical precision is the main goal. Their art may be admired for skill, but if emotion is absent, the work does not reach deeper connection.
Abstract paintings follow the same principle. If the artist focuses only on form or technique, any emotional impact is accidental. True emotion in abstract art arises when the artist makes it the overriding goal, subordinating every other concern. Abstraction, however, offers a unique advantage: it leaves more space for the imagination, inviting deeper personal reactions. These may differ from the artist’s own intentions, yet they remain valid and lasting. In art, there are no correct interpretations—only personal ones.
My own approach
Paint from within. Find the things you feel strongly about or are noticably affected by -in summary Find Your Passion and Neuroses and let them drive your artistic endeavours. These are the views I have developed over my artistic life. My aim is simple yet demanding: to create visible feelings—to express what cannot be put into words. The paintings below are examples of my attempts to do just that.
Illustrative Examples of Emotion in Paintings
This original abstract painting
called Old Orange was inspired by imagining flying over the Arizona Desert. I have never done that but I love flying and the desert - my imagination put the two together and made it happen. I wanted to create a painting with a feeling of calm separation.
Each of these three attempts at emotion in art are abstract figure paintings.
Each one makes a different statement to the other two. One might have a sense of aloofness, arrogance even, another has movement and intimacy (or is it something spiritual?), and the other one is unmistakeable - the shapes and greys close to despair surely?
Your interpretation
This example of paintings with emotion is entirely for you to make up your own minds about. Do you connect? Everyone is different and we make individual interpretations. For this painting I used surrealism
How does this painting make you feel? Do you sense dread and a feeling of inevitability or something entirely different? Exhibited with the American Watercolor Society
Colour creates different emotions in different people and most of us seem to love gazing into our space from time to time. That is what I want to enable the viewer to do in this colourful piece. Infinity lies within the reds and purples, the thin red line creates depth but I wonder if the blue on the bottom right is a distraction. it is a beautiful blue perhaps too beautiful.
Again we are gazing into space and letting our thoughts emerge in these two paintings with emotion... is your emotional reaction different for each one?
Paintings can make us think new thoughts, calm or excite us and take us to places we have never been before - artist's can with help and endeavour make that happen.
Emotion in Paintings in Every Genre
Emotion is the driver for all of my original abstract paintings, irrespective of what type they are. I use surrealism, geometric art, and minimalism. A with thet goal to make Paintings with Feeling.
Alan Brain Art
Anything About Art
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