Expressionism was a modernist movement at the beginning of the 20th Century whose main characteristic was to present the world from a subjective perspective. Expressionist artists express emotional experience rather than physical reality; the objects they depict are distorted to arouse an emotional response and to evoke moods and ideas.
Expressionist art is characterized by strong brush strokes, intense colours and disjointed space, thus making the artwork appear spontaneous and personal.
Many artists today chose this style, not only for the freedom of expressing their own inner feelings but also for the challenge of stirring an emotional response in the viewer.
Here are some statements from Art2Arts artists that describe the expressionist style.
“I am trying to create an emotional response to nature in my work”, Nikki Wheeler.
“Within my work I try to capture the mood of a place rather than simply producing a topographical study”, Julia Entwistle.
“In my Scottish paintings I try to capture my own mood and mix this with the mood nature presents for me to paint”, Yulia Allan.
“I find my inspiration in the natural beauty of my surrounding landscape – from the vibrancy of a flower in bloom, to the gentle haze of a setting sun, I try to capture the atmosphere in my paintings”, CK Wood.
