Vasily Kandinsky ( ) Abstract Expressionist Geometric and Free Form Shapes Positive and Negative Space

Vocabulary Terms Write these down and look for there definitions in this presentation  Abstract-  Geometric Shape-  Free Form Shape-  Positive Space-  Negative Space-

Abstract Expressionist One of the first Modern European artists to break through representational barrier and carry painting into TOTAL ABSTRACTION Abstract- Art with out any literal subject matter. Nothing illustrated from the observable world.

GUESS WHAT?!  Russian born Kandinsky initially studied law and economics!  A couple visits to Paris and some art exhibitions of French paintings caused him to refuse to become a law professor and STUDY PAINTING!

Art versus Music Fascinated by music’s emotional power. Imagination, interpretation, and emotional responses. At that time all art was representational, so he felt he had get rid of all pictorial images to make art more like music. More Spiritual

Form Versus Color  More concerned with form than color as a means of expression.  Mostly Geometric Abstraction  Notice all the Geometric shapes

Geometric Shapes Shapes that can be represented by mathematical equations. They have definite lines, angles and curves

Free Form shapes  More expressive, biomorphic, non-controlled shapes. Don’t rely on strict lines and angles. Can be more curvy and creative.

White Line No.232 This piece is full of geometric and free form shapes, straight lines, curving shapes, and like most all of his work, sharply defined edges.

Composition VIII Artworks entitled Compositions were regareded as most expressive works

Positive Negative  The space occupied by the main subjects of the work.  Easy to recognize as the eye is trained focus mostly on these shapes.  The areas around and behind the objects that make up the positive spaces.  These areas make up valuable shapes as well

From Painting, to just Positive and Negative

With the Positive shapes erased does the negative space still give enough information?

What about this image?

One more example

Back to Kandinsky

They look MAGICAL!  Highly interested in Russian Folk Tales and mythology  A lot of his artworks have fairytale qualities about them, with magical looking colors and shapes

Often Enormous works 7ftx10ft!