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Monday, August 19, 2013

Naïve Art/Folk Art

       Helga Hornug
 
As I've work on my latest punchneedle embroidery designs I've been thinking about what 'kind' of 'art' I am drawn to create these days.  My own descriptors would be simple, straightforward, colorful and a little childlike in their forms.  Simplicity of the design seems very important to me, for some reason, and this simple designs definitely work well in punchneedle embroidery.

                                                                                       Marianna Grinblat

After thinking about this for a couple of days, I decided to look up the definition of both folk art and naïve art.  This is what I found:

Naïve art is a classification of art that is often characterized by childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique.

Folk Art - art originating among the common people of a nation or region and usually reflecting their original culture especially everyday or festive items produced or decorated by unschooled artists.
                                                                          Monica Grace

I am not actually a 'naïve' person in the true sense of the work - after all, at my age if I were naïve it would mean I haven't been paying attention.  But there's no reason why my art can't reflect this tone and style.  In the end I realized that all I want is to to reflect the joy that I get from the work of my hands.  I think that will be enough of a definition for me.

"It is well for heart to be naïve and the mind not to be." - Anatole France

9 comments:

  1. Love your comment that at our age, being naive would mean we haven't paid attention! True, and also humorous. Do I have an attention disorder? Sometimes! But the words that say it best are in your bottom quote...who would have thought the heart could be naive, but not the mind?! Your work will reflect this words. :)

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  2. I am also drawn to the naive/folk art genre and the simple joy they often reflect. Your punch needle birds are a lovely example of the fun, colorful nature of this kind of work. I look forward to seeing more :)

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  3. These are beautiful images, I too am drawn to naive art, the more traditional but also artists such as Paul Klee and Marc Chagall both of whom I would also classify as naive.
    A lot of your work has a naive quality to it, and is obviously drawn from the heart

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  4. YES YES YES.
    Everything about this post rings true for you, Penny [well, as far as I *know* you, that is]. I wonder where the need comes from for us to "define" ourselves from time to time? It's been happening to me, too. If it is doubt that starts it, I am grateful that's not where we end up ;>]]

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  5. Debbie - I have always loved Paul Klee's work. I hadn't thought of him as a naïve artist but I agree with you that both he and Marc Chagall are of that genre. That moves the bar up for me *smile*!

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  6. I like what Cristi said or should I say asked. I have a blog friend..
    acreativedreamer.blogspot.com
    whose art I absolutely love. She classes it as illustration. I love it because its simple with bold color.
    I don't know..I just say it has the "June" factor. Jinx is another who's work I admire. She has that same element of whimsy.
    xx, Carol

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  7. It's the pure joy in creating that shines through this sort of work and is so obvious in your work too, Penny. :o)

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  8. That quote from Anatole France rings absolutely true, doesn't it!

    Given how textural punchneedle embroidery is, simplicity of outline is probably an enhancement rather than anything else!

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