Dark Art – A personal view
As defined by Wikipedia
Primarily a product of the 20th Century, dark art is an art style defined as that being "dark" or unsettling in nature. Called and classified under many names such as gothic, horror, metaphysical, nightmarish, and disturbing, it is actually a culmination of techniques and styles. It has been presented in many forms by many artists, illustrators and film-makers. It continues to grow in popularity as a part of the horror genre and gothic, music and publishing culture. Today, it is a part of our mainstream culture, crossing over into multiple mediums including advertising, television, film, and marketing. While it has roots in horror, it has been presented as collage, surrealism, abstract, motion graphics, grunge, expressionism, and largely digital art.
Dark Art is, I think, is a personal voyage into the inner person. A journey into the unknown depths of that other side of the artist. The one untamed by convention and “normality”.
To teach, it is difficult, to learn it, harder. There are very few masters and most will only attain the status of acolyte. As with life, there will always be new avenues to explore, new techniques to try, a new emotion to deal with, helped along by others lucky enough to have drawing skills as well that have devised a new image to help us express these in an individually artistic way.
I can only speak for myself when I say that my true journey began with those images found at Tellen's Place Designs. They helped me develop that “unfettered by convention” freedom. Once that was nurtured and allowed to grow, my true journey began. Imagination is the only limiter. Let that soar and the results will follow.
Techniques learnt in mainstream art can be used, or is it the other way round? The darker side of art encourages the exploration of different techniques. Encourages mixing techniques that few have done before. The beauty of all this is – NOTHING is wrong. There is a place for glitter and glitz just as there is a place for the odd skull, witch or mystical image.
One thing Dark Art is not, and that's Cute.
Written and submitted by Helen Angel-Cullum (aka Croms)
Well, said Helen. I don't get a lot of it. But, that is ok. You are really good at it.
ReplyDeleteI don't do "alternative" art Helen......but from what I have read of your article and from looking in on some of the projects that I have seen you all do.....you express the "art of dark" very well. very informative and I've learned plenty about it in the last few weeks.....TFS....
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