Abstract Landscape Paintings of Ernie Gerzabek
Ernie Gerzabek's Abstract Landscape Paintings are inspired by the Australian topography, its wilderness regions, wetlands, virgin countryside, deserts and seashores.
Ernie is a professional landscape painter, abstract artist and sculptor. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, immigrated to Australia in 1958 and used to work as a Chartered Architect. Retired since 1999, he is painting full time.
As a self-taught artist, Ernie is inspired in his abstract landscape paintings by works of Vincent van Gogh, Paul Klee, Kandinsky and Picasso, as well as by several Australian artists. His artwork has been in more than 26 solo shows since 1999 and is in public and private collections in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Great Britain and other European countries.
Here is Ernie's delightful essay that he wrote for Contemporary Art Dialogue.
I believe that abstract landscape paintings are inspired by the natural environment in its many manifestations. Many different kinds of landscapes can provide the source for inspiration. Wilderness areas, mountain ranges, forests, deserts, open plains and fields, seashores waterways and the ocean are my favourites.
Landscape paintings can be either traditional or contemporary. Traditional landscapes are usually depictive, photorealistic or stylised to some extent.
Contemporary abstract landscape paintings are in some aspects different from what the eye sees. They are modified by the individual creative process applied by the artist. The visual image produced may be simplified, exaggerated, reorganised or abstracted to some degree in comparison to the actual landscape. The artist would modify the observed subject by introducing a subjective element of his own. For example, the painter may only use the colours of the landscape but reassemble them in a different free-form pattern.
As I see it, the inspiration drawn from the landscape is always important as a starting point. Even when the creative modifications are carried out to the extreme degree, it is still important that the "feeling of being there" is apparent. The memory, the ghost, the jolting recollection of the place should be felt.
Every landscape has a dominant characteristic, a certain mood and an ambience. The challenge for the artist is to capture this essence. This can be achieved in many ways; I prefer the following approaches, loosely based on historical art movements.
Impressionist: by focusing on the colour mix, the fine details and the decorative aspects.
Expressionist: by boldly capturing the dominant forms and shapes and utilise the life-force energy residing in the place by intuitive action painting.
Minimalist: by reducing the landscape to its basic essential elements and omitting all unnecessary and distracting details.
Pattern Making: by focusing on the rhythm, patterns and texture of a place, for example, by focusing on the minutia of close up details.
Applying Fantasy: creating imaginary landscapes, which express the artist’s mindset as opposed to the reality of the visible world.
I am sure that there are many other ways to come up with original solutions. Landscapes have a generative power and presence, which inspire the mind and soul of visually sensitive artists. It is not unusual to be carried away by the visual stimulation provided by exciting landscapes and seascapes and take off on a journey of exploration.
For me, the adventure of nature inspires new discoveries; the stretching of the imagination and producing original artistic delights is the most satisfying aspect of art making.
Please visit Ernie's website Abstract Landscape Paintings to see more examples of his work!
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