I have a ‘drapery look book’ which is basically a binder filled with torn pages from magazines that I show my clients when we are designing a window covering. They can see what the header looks like–anything from a traditional pinched pleat to a ‘top’ pinched pleat (which is more contemporary) to a grommet treatment, and so on. This is the first page of my book. I have always loved the casual heading and the way they puddle on the floor. I’m going to send this post to one of my clients because I think this is exactly what he should do in his loft at the Renaissance Quay in New Westminster.
I have no idea which magazine it came out of long ago but the woman in this image is an artist, Anh Duong standing in her west village loft.
And portraits. . . but they are all so sad looking. She painted a dog and even he looks sad with his big eyes. I would love to understand why someone would buy a piece of art that feels sad.
Since we just had this conversation in my last post that included a piece of art by Rothko and the direction he went later in his life (you’ll have to read the comments to understand what I’m talking about), I’m amazed that this post just led me to this question when all I wanted to do in the first place was show you this drapery!!
Well dear readers? Have you ever bought a piece of art that is melancholy or dark feeling? Tell us why? I’d love your thoughts. . .
Those drapes along with the heading style would suit a loft perfectly! I hope your client agrees. I really like most of the flower paintings, but I wouldn’t buy one after seeing those portraits she’s painted. Not a single half-way joyful face…..she seems disturbed.
This is interesting. I looked at Duong’s portraits and thought how expressive they looked – if eyes are the windows of the soul, she really captures the eyes so beautifully. The eyes totally dominate the portaits (even in the dog portrait).
Recently I was helping someone select a piece of art for her home. She was accompanied by a friend, who was commenting on her art selection. The piece the woman loved was quite striking, but her friend was questioning the choice. She said ‘why would you want a painting that looks so sad?’. The painting was abstract, and did not strike me as sad at all. Art is incredibly subjective – everything in life is subjective – and everyone has their own particular filter through which they see the world.
Please stop by my blog for a little surprise!
My favourite painting I have is a 4′ X 4′ oil in canvas title ” The Thinker ” The paint is mostly black with charcoals and hints of warm tones – It plays 2 characters one is very bright one is very dark and sad. I love this painting every time I see it at night it reminds me of the importance of what I have accomplished every day.
For me it is the balance of an idea – not everything can be happy or you will never find happiness. To be happy you need to understand what does it feel being sad. I think Happy is the yin and sad is the yang of human emotions.
In my opinion sad paintings are more memorable than happy paintings and that is what art does generate an emotion.
ei Picasso’s blue and pink period.
As you know, we just had a “name that painting” giveaway on our blog. It was so interesting to read the different name suggestions and the meanings behind them.
Art is so personal. You might love a painting I hate, and the other way around. I’m a big fan of Matt LeBlanc’s abstract paintings. I also really like Ron Burns’s animal paintings. Not only does he paint colourful and quirky animal portraits, but he’s a huge advocate for homeless animals. So sometimes the meaning behind the painting is as important to a person as the painting itself.
I don’t really like sad paintings, especially sad animal paintings. I prefer paintings that make me happy when I look at them 🙂
Kelly
We are going too far here but I need to say briefly… Art should not represent reality, but it should put a filter between us and reality, a spacial and temporal suspension.
A sign, a concept, a feeling.
Sadness in art? of course, as all other parts and feelings we experiment in life!
Most of the great masterpieces deal with sadness or tragedy…”The Last Supper” by Leonardo, “La Pieta'” by Michelangelo, “The Cry” by Munch, “The potato eaters” by Van Gogh, “Guernica” by Picasso, De Chirico, Schiele… and I can go on forever also in literature, music, photography… Art would not exist if sadness, tragedy, fear were not allowed.
Fear of feeling fear is part of Western culture.
Art is subjective and must remain so. Art has so many levels (from a realistic drawing of a flower to a conceptual art form) of understanding and comprehension…it is a lifetime challenge.
I know I have gone too far!
The red drapes are faboulous!
I LOVE her loft!! I don’t remember where it’s from either but I’ve saved the photos for years as well. I particularly love the red velvet drapes and the bathroom.
Yes, I have a couple of things melancholy-ish. Don’t know why. Why do you ever like any art? You just feel something about it.
P.S. Thank you!! for finally helping me to fix your link. I still have two more that I can’t fix and they are stuck in January 2008 or something. I’ve tried everything.
I have never bought a painting that was sad or meloncholy, though there are a few that come to mind that I admire a lot. I don’t know that I would like to see it every day though.
It makes you wonder if all of those who had their portrait done were meloncholy, or if that is the way the artist viewed them???
I really like her flower painting, which is usually the art topic I am most drawn to. And her curtains can’t be left unmentioned either!
I was like, oh no red velvet drapes… the first thing i thought was bordello. but the pic was really pretty and suprisingly airy which is strange for red velvet. not a fan of her artwork though its boring
I have never bought “sad” art, but I had been attracted to it in the past…, I think the attraction came from a place where I wanted to understand my own pain and find peace with it.
I don’t find the work sad. Not en masse anyway.
The candid gazes and naked expressions just seem honest. I like honesty.
I have painted work and bought work that could be construed as sad. Others call it pensive, melancholy, introspective…etc. I think without
shadow there is no light.
I think you can guess the answer to this one, Maria.
I have a collection of portraits of women who all look shall we say less than happy. I don’t think I am happy by nature, although if you met me you would think otherwise. I analyze everything way too much. I think that is why I connect with these women. I feel understood. Perhaps that is what Anh Duong is feeling as well. A connection to what we all feel sometimes.
xo
Brooke
sometimes I like sad things (movies, songs, etc). I guess sometimes its nice to experience emotions on both sides of the coin. But I am drawn to those flowers. They really bring out a lot of emotion.
Thanks for helping me fix the blog link! I hope that your spring comes soon, I promise not to take mine for granted 🙂
Thank you all for your insightful and thought provoking comments! I love and adore every single one of you!!
It all makes so much more sense to me now. Thank you to my stylish and intelligent list of readers!
xo
Maria
Hi Maria
Your post has really provoked a great discussion. And that is what makes Blogging so special is reading the comments. Good Job!! You are a blogging pro.
Lately I have been attracted to abstract art as opposed to representaional art. Although that could change at any moment.
Hey Maria – I'd love to see what you do with your client's space. If he has a loft in the Quay then he's likely in the same building as my client Kate. So… it might be cool to show & tell 🙂
Hope you're well…
Victoria from EdinDesign @ DesignTies
As an artist, I think it is creative license and style and vision – that is what I am drawn to in other artists.
That said, of course technique and level of skill is one thing, but often the emotion can be the pure raw attraction. My favorite portraits are Elizabeth Peyton – some have a melancholy-ish vibe, but they are so full of soul.
I actually see so much of Anna in her work, her eyes in their eyes. It is unique.
I discovered your blog a couple of days ago. Yea, I have learned so much. I think I have read everything you have written. Thank You!
Some how I stumbled on to Velvet & Linen, then from Brooke I found you. I could wrap myself up in one of their homes.
Rebecca
I LOVE LOVE those drapes. I recently installed 20ft high drapes in my loft (but they are sheers pretty much) and I love how they look. I also made them super long so they pool on the floor just like in that picture. My husband told me they looked bad and I told him he has no taste. haha. But I had never seen another picture of superlong drapes like I did, and now I have so I feel justified! I will have to email him your post! 😉 Thank you!
I have a print of a solitary tree, almost black and white, in the mist that I suppose could be considered sad. To me, it represents how alone we sometimes feel yet how strong we can be to continue on despite our personal hardships, and there’s a kind of beauty in our struggle to survive. I never verbalized it, but since you asked, lol. As to why someone would want sad art, it’s probably similar to why we listen to sad songs or watch sad movies…it evokes emotion. I don’t want to live in that dark place all the time, but to visit it reminds me of how much there is that’s beautiful and valuable and how much there is to appreciate.