Six Functions of Art: 6... Refresh our vision and help us see the world in new ways.

Six Functions of Art:



Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Meules, effet de neige, le matin
Oil on canvas
1891

6. Refresh our vision and help us see the world in new ways.

Claude Monet was a painter of light. He gave us a momentary glimpse in time that can never exist again. For me… his artwork gave us a fresh way of seeing and thinking. This painting from his “Haystack” series exemplifies my comments by allowing us to visually see a light on an object captured in a moment of time.

I hope you have enjoyed this series... The Six Functions of Art!
Bernie

Haybales Near Todd
8x10" Oil on Canvas
Bernie Rosaage Jr

Nude Pear
8x6" Oil on Panel
Bernie Rosage Jr.

Six Functions of Art: #5... Give tangible form to feelings and ideas.

Six Functions of Art

5. Give tangible form to feelings and ideas.


Art is full of emotion and feelings. Many times it is created with emotion and evokes emotion… that is how art often speaks to me personally. I am not much of an abstract painter (as seen in this piece) but I did this painting several years ago in dealing with some feelings I was having. The piece is titled "Tired of Being Angry" and was my cry out from the total exhaustion of being stuck in the angry mode of grief. My friend/sister was killed in an auto accident in 1998. 2004 was an especially rough year for me for some reason... I couldn't explain it... how was I doing so well and then five years later I was getting angry to the point my family was suffering because of it? This painting came as a result of it... it was my way of letting go and letting God take care of it.

Tired of Being Angry
8x10" acrylic on canvas
Bernie Rosage Jr.
2004

Six Functions of Art: #4... Give tangible form to the unknown.

Six Functions of Art


4. Give tangible form to the unknown.

William Adolphe Bouguereau
Une âme au ciel (Translated title: A Soul in Heave)
1878 ~ Oil on canvas

Art helps us see things we can only imagine. Artists have been taking us into the unknown since the beginning. I chose this painting by Bouguereau as my example. He depicts angels carrying a young deceased woman into Heaven. This painting has always appealed to me since the passing of my sister who was about the same age as Bouguereau’s subject.

Stay tuned as I share my thoughts and examples on function #5... Give tangible form to feelings and ideas.

"A Pondering Heart" after Bouguereau...
7x5" Oil on Canvas Board by Bernie Rosage Jr.

I was inspired by Bouguereau's painting, "Le Baiser" and Luke 2:19 to produce this cropped version as a head study.... "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart"...



"The Cross Set Before Him"...

Bernie Rosage Jr.

20"x16" Oil on canvas, 2004,

Inspired by Hebrews 12:2.





Six Functions of Art: #3... Record and Commemorate

Six Functions of Art

3. Record and Commemorate.

The Arc de Triomphe ("Triumphal Arch"), Paris, France

Art records our progress and deeds in many ways. Ancient civilizations are often defined by their art through ARTifacts found by archaeologists. The Arc de Triomphe (Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The "Triumphal Arch” was built to honor those who fought and died for France in the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars and houses the vault of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. It is the larger of two arch’s built (Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel stands near the Louve). This monument immediately came to mind for my example as I remember my uncle describing the feeling of pride he got riding past this arch while serving in France during World War II.

Stay tuned as I share my thoughts and examples on function #4... Give tangible form to the unknown.

Tribute to Gold Star Moms
10x8" oil on linen panel
Bernie Rosage Jr.



Six Functions of Art: #2... Create extraordinary versions of ordinary objects.

Six Functions of Art
2. Create extraordinary versions of ordinary objects.


Chocolate Covered Cherry No. 3
5-16-2005 by Duane Keiser

Artists have the a knack for allowing us to see things in different ways… even everyday objects we take for granted can be transformed into works of art through their endeavors. Duane Keiser is a painter from Richmond, Virginia. He has been doing a daily painting since December 10, 2004, slowing down in April 2006 for other projects. I chose Duane’s work (I could have chosen any one of his hundreds of paintings) because he is "the father" of the ”painting a day” art movement that is sweeping the globe. The premise is to paint small “postcard” size paintings from life in one sitting every day. The subjects are usually everyday objects that often go unnoticed around us.

I participated in the “painting a day” project in 2007 and painted 180 paintings that year… not quite everyday but enough to keep me busy! Three of those paintings are listed below...

Thanks for dropping by... stay tuned for,,, Function #3 Record and Commemorate.

Cadmium Lemon
8x8" oil on linen panel
Bernie Rosage Jr.

Salt and Light
6x8" oil on panel
Bernie Rosage Jr.

Hammer Down
7x5" oil on linen panel
Bernie Rosage Jr.

Six Functions of Art: #1 Create places for some human purpose.

 Six Functions of Art

1. Create places for some human purpose.

Dolman at Poulnabrone, The Burren, County Clare, Ireland.

Art can be found everywhere. It often serves as practical purposes for our human needs, for instance, the intricate patterns on quilts are works of art but the quilt serves another purpose. The Dolman at Poulnabrone in Ireland is such a piece of artwork. It was originally covered with earth and served as a tomb. The Burren, a great rocky expanse in County Clare, is one of the world's truly unique places in that it can supports Arctic, Mediterranean and Alpine plants side-by-side. Its ancient, awe inspiring stone structures hold secrets from the past that may never be unraveled. Poulnabrone Portal Dolmen is an ancient stone tomb dating between 2000 - 2500 B.C. It's just one of the many ancient historic monuments dotted throughout Ireland. I picked this as my example because I went to Ireland and was awestruck by countless scenes like this.

Stay tuned for Function #2... Create extraordinary versions of ordinary objects.

Below is an oil painting from my Enchanting Ireland series of this Irish wonder...



"Poulnabrone Dolmen"...The Burren, County Clare
24x30" oil by Bernie Rosage Jr.



Bernie's Ramblings: The Six Functions of Art

Over the next several days I'd like to discuss the six functions of art – or the purposes for which humans create art. I plan to share examples of works (plus some of my own) that illustrate each of the functions and explain why I selected the works that exemplify these functions.

Six Functions of Art


• 1. Create places for some human purpose.


• 2. Create extraordinary versions of ordinary objects.


• 3. Record and Commemorate.


• 4. Give tangible form to the unknown.


• 5. Give tangible form to feelings and ideas.


• 6. Refresh our vision and help us see the world in new ways.

Stay tuned....
Bernie