ART OF FOCUS – Art Statement
My artwork expounds on my artistic concept of “Focus”.
People think our eyes can see a number of things simultaneously with clarity and a specific width and depth. All that is within sight is clear. For many years I believed this and tried to express this through my work. However, over time with observation and research, I found that this was wrong. Our eyes are not as capable as I thought. Human vision is much more limited than what I believed. At any given moment, only one clear point or “clear spot” will be shown, while all else appears vague.
Our eyes are agile, moving and focusing constantly providing a “visual image”. However, our brains complement the “visual image” with what I call a “mental image.” This “mental image” may give a wrong impression of what we think we see. To me the specific “clear spot” is between the “visual image” and the “mental image.” This is what I mean by “Focus.”
I believe my discovery about the nature of human vision upends my previous understanding of vision, and has changed the way I paint.
In my paintings now, I try to capture the focal point of my eyes at any one single moment. If I need to, I re-arrange the focal point. It may be to the front, middle or background. It can be on a part of one object or it can be arranged to any area of the painting. I feel this frees me up from the bondage of nature, from realistic art. At any specific moment, everything that is within sight forms images, but only one spot will be clear. In my painting, only the focal point looks clear while everything else is visible but ambiguous.
My mission of visual art is to reflect human vision. I believe that in my art of “Focus”, I am creating that.
My art of “Focus” is the core concept I bring to Mass Art. It is a long-term project, and will be my artistic pursuit for my Mass Art BLR program study and research. I will derive other concepts all related from this core concept. These other concepts will include Overlap, Reversed Perspective, Bird’s View, Nature prints, and the Human figure, and more.
Overlap – Painting, Series of three
We get used too to see the world around us. Flowers and birds become my objects appear on my paintings are basically realistic, even the paintings expressed my thought, but still look realistic. I am thinking different way to paint them. A new concept come up to my mind: How about split the flower petals and leaves apart, free arrange in overlap positions.
Shape design: round shape with 8 sections of curve, represent the petals of flower, it can be turned around, it is endless, I look at my draft, find the best looking position.
Materials: Treated Xuang paper, Chinese painting color, acrylic color, ink;
Size: 27″ x 27″, it is normal size for gallery and home;
Object: peony, in Chinese tradition, it represent precious, beauty, rich, usually use bright, purity colors, to express people’s longing for good wishes. you often see red flower with green leaves, very colorful. I rather to do different, give peony grace, calm, elegant attributes. the main object takes small space but it appears clear and noticeable, I want it first catch audience eyes, all else will be vague.
Color: use soft and similar color scale, color contrast between object and foreground.
Technique: Use white line instead of ink line, paint foreground on pre-wetted paper, apply light layers over and over to reach the darkness I want, and ensure smooth and soft effects.
Goal: Try something different, challenge my self. during the new practice, use and discover new techniques;
Shape design
Series Drafts
Color Study
Wild Eye – it is my focus
In the middle of night, hidden in the deep weeds, I suddenly see a shining eye. It is a ferocious, terrifying and wild eye. In my horrified mind, the lion and the weeds and everything are blurry, but the eye that is staring at me is clear. That is exactly express my concept of the nature of human vision.
Materials: Chinese painting color, acrylic color, ink, raw Xuang paper,
Size: 27 1/2″ x 27 1/2″
Goal: Emphasize the nature of human vision;
See more of my “Focus” work, please visit : https://jianfangli877.wixsite.com/art-focus
Ever Flowers – Sculpture.
The idea from the flowers I sent to my wife over the times, every time the flowers dried in a few days, she collect them. So I got an idea to make them for Ever Flowers, I combine flower and music, leaves and flowers attached on five strings symbolize music notes. spry paint to change color once a while, looks for ever fresh. All nature, different than fake flowers.
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