Abstract Art

I wish this was just clearly a specific size 2D art and/or painting, and that 3D art items were in their own swaps. This looks like it should be broken out into a few different swaps. I would probably join a majority of them. It's just hard to manage expectations and I've gotten into hot water on swaps where it is not crystal clear »exactly« what is being exchanged.

I understand your thoughts, but I've always let the Artists who particpate do the art they are feeling. I hate being told what art to do, and how to do it and like the freedom it offers. Many artists work in multiple mediums and this allows them the opportunity to be creative without restraints. Some months I may make an art doll, and the next month a painting, and the next month jewelry. But I can say, most of the art I receive is paintings or mixed media projects. I also do this because I love all art. I love receiving a variety of art, for instance, water colour paintings. but I'm not very good at watercolors myself, so I wouldn't join many watercolor swaps. (It really isnt fair to my partners :) And there are already many swaps for 2d paintings, so this is just one more option out there. If you choose to, we would love to have you particpate. ;)

@wolfeagle Maybe in the future re-name it "Art Object, Sender's Choice". ☺ Then you can theme it from there, maybe colors or something like "copper". I do hand beadweaving and many other things. I'm allergic to nickel and costume metals, usually getting stuff is tricky. My friend made me a cute necklace with retro robots but I can only wear it with a turtleneck. "Abstract" is a hard to work with offhand unless it is specifically a painting. I guess jewelry could be free form but dolls are a harder concept since they are inherently representational as mimicking the human form. I don't have any great ideas as of this time! @_ Sometimes just enough parameters and limitations are helpful. ☺ It is amazing how people are so creative in different media.

You're welcome to do a 2D painting, or your beadweaving. Abstract Art, in all its forms, and specifically our Abstract themed swap, has always been a really fun swap, One of my favorites for the year.
As an Art Doll artist, I can say that many traditional dolls do mimick the human form, however, the "Art Doll", is another form of art, and often does not follow traditional doll making, especially that of micking the human form.
But you were right about our Artists...it IS amazing how people can be so creative when working in different mediums. Thanks.

@wolfeagle I think people prefer dolls and art dolls to have a significant human representation. If someone gave me something like a Cy Twombly sculpture and said "It's a doll!" I would be like "uh.... really?" ^.^'

Some people get different types of ARt, including art dolls...others Don't. Some people like, for example, Jackson Pollack....others see paint splatter. To each his own.
Art Dolls, as a general form of art...are certainly not limited to the human form. Just like any other artist, art doll artists can be inspired by just about anything...including nature, music, animals, history, colors, science, the supernatural, fruit or food, the unknown...and so on and so on.
It's totally okay if you don't get it. Just stick to what you can do. ;) I've seen some awesome beadweaving, even if it's not something I do.
But bottom line for this group really is, if you are opposed to receiving different types of art, then this probably isn't the group for you as I don't restrict our Artists.

I'll be making a large (6" x 9") abstract collage postcard for this swap. Can I send it naked so more abstract art (including abstract art stamps!) can be incorporated on the opposite side, or does it have to be in an envelope, with the opposite side blank?

For this swap, how your represent the theme and what mediums you work in are Artist's choice. Even what you make your art on. If you wanna do a postcard as your art and you want to send it naked...then do it. I have received art from people in the group on cardboard, on used book covers, water color paper, canvas board, and stretched canvas, fabric, etc. Your art should reflect you, not be forced in to what someone else thinks art is. Have fun!

@wolfeagle I get the genre; I was just commenting that the closer to representational art art dolls works are, especially human form, the easier they are for the general public to process. ☺

A Chicago papermaking artist does a lot of sculptural art dolls in creches; they are all cast paper that she paints. I hung these for a curated show in a college library, sorry it is just a low res cell phone photo. I just thought to show you. ☺

Jackson Pollock and the New York School is a sticky subject in art history since they were being funded and promoted by government money through the CIA as first divulged by Eva Cockcroft in 1974 and more fully detailed in The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters by Frances Stonor Saunders in 1999.
There was a political motivation to promote the American Abstract Expressionists [Kline, de Kooning, Rothko, Pollock et al]. They may have been historically subordinate to James Chapin, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, all three Wyeths and the other American Regionalists if it were not for strategic government interference, but we'll never know.

I'll def look to join a future swap. I just do not have a great idea for this one! ^.^ I'm more invested in Pop right now and the cutesy nature stuff people like to get in ATCs which is fun and easy to make. Unless I think of something!

Well, that may be true...the general public may be able to process human looking dolls easier, but really, I give them more credit then that. I believe people are capable of seeing a doll, or any other art form, and to be moved by it. They don't have to understand it, or know the background, or even the artist...it may be more of a guttural reaction of...I like that or I don't like that. Even 5 year olds can tell you if they like a piece of art or not. And, in this case, our group isn't the general public...its a group of artists, who do understand different forms of art and are quite cabable of processing it. And, I also don't believe, in any way, shape or form, that an artist should create something because it is easier for "the general public" to process, and certainly would never tell group members to create that way...imo, that kind of misses the whole point of art and the creative process.

Hear, hear!

This sounds fun! I'm in.