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I recall years at school studying paintings of the Great Artists where  I had this really over-zealous, extrovert Art teacher who went into great depths to describe the artists emotional state in a particular piece, and I would sit there thinking  that the teacher needed to see a shrink!

I then studied color therapy as part of a counseling course that I did a few years back and am absolutely intrigued by it still. It has helped me to understand how to channel emotion into a painting. Although I do believe that as with every artist and in fact with every human being, our visual perception of color differs from one person to another. Our views are as unique as a finger print. So unless we are absolutely familiar with the artist, (which would allow us to understand the artist’s interpretation of color) I personally would never dare to try and interpret too much into understanding the artist’s message, unless it is blatantly obvious.

Art interpretation is as personal to you as it is to the artist who painted it; as a painting is about emotion ...guided or spontaneous; whether it be your own emotion or the Artist's who painted it.  It is wonderful to share these views with others as it allows you into a small place inside them... this is how Art Therapy works. It is a way to express yourself and to be guided into putting what you see into words.

Last year I painted this Triptych and put it onto my Facebook Group page. I asked someone to give an interpretation of this painting. I was ASTOUNDED at what she wrote. I did this in order to prove this theory.

 I have posted this painting below and my interpretation below that. 

 If you as an artist want to showcase your work and get people interested in you as a person as well as your art, it is really important that you say something about the painting. Ok my description is way too long but a short description or a title that will guide the emotion of the viewer is so important. Viewers want to know 

·          What is the size of this painting?

·         What medium did you use and what is it painted on?

·         What is it called or what inspired you to paint it.

If you want a viewer to know what the painting is about, then tell them! Sometimes this helps to get their attention and interested in what they are looking at.

Retribution

60”x60”x1.5” (1.5m x1.5m) hung. 3 x canvas Triptych

Acrylic on Canvas

The paintings in the triptych format speak of three different states or realms for the two main characters. The centre is the mundane world or place of contest between good and evil the stage, if you will, separated by the states of existence of the Angel on the right a subconscious signal of good in western mindset and the temptress on the left once again indicative of temptation evil.

The angel is chained with the chain linking the three images. The theme for me is Downfall as a result of lust indicative of the red sky and the partial nudity of the characters. The angel is bound by lust to the mundane world through the charms of the temptress; the theme of which we find in the Judeo Romano biblical texts of Genesis, where the sons of heaven came to earth taking wives from the daughters of men.

The figure of the temptress further reinforces the theme by the glove on the right hand holding the chain alluding to legends of the red right hand in popular folklore that denotes a sign of the agent of temptation.

I am greatly inspired by music. The song “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was the initial inspiration of this painting.

The lightning in the centre painting denotes turbulence, despite the empty street; denoting calm. The danger is unseen; except for the trail of the chain.

Then there is the matter of the crows long associated as mythical figures in cultures associated with death and travel between worlds and states of existence, and also messengers from the other side. This is reinforced by the fact that besides the chain they are the only thing crossing more than one image. The direction of flight towards the left naturally in western mindsets leaves one slightly unsettled and draws the eye to the left as they are the only real movement giving the impression that the angel is being dragged by the chain towards the left and the temptress, almost as if denoting the strength of temptation. Also the fact that the angel’s wings span the two states. The wings are partway in the centre painting denoting that he has been pulled toward the temptress.

The angel is obviously a fallen angel. The state of his wings and the tattoos signify this.

 Retribution, the name, I thinks speaks for itself.

I created another blog on this similar topic of interpretation. It can be found here.... ...How do we Interpret?...