EscapeArt Magazine Issue 1 - "What makes art good?"

(Continued from p.43) What Makes Art Good?

techniques that proved to work in the past and Continue reading on page. 61
revolutionized the way art was created. For an
artwork to be considered good the artist needs to
be able to understand the principles needed in order
to conserve their creation as well as the aspects of
color, composition, form and value. The way these
elements interact with each other often dictates
if an artwork is good or bad. On the other hand,
there are artworks that in order to communicate a
message or emotion create a disproportion between
the elements mentioned. It is important for a good
grasp of the technical aspects of art media to exist
even if the artwork moves away from the structure
which defines technical skill. To create a door, you
must know where the wall is.

In 1719, English painter Jonathan Richardson
published “An Essay on the Whole Art of
Criticism” in which he suggested an objective
point system which ranged from 0-18 ought to
be given in each category of an artwork: drawing,
composition, invention and coloring. However, it
would be impossible to use this system to evaluate
a film or even something less extreme such as a
poem. Therefore, across the years subcategories of
this discipline have been created. It would still be
impossible to be able to fully grasp the countless
art mediums, boundless subject matter, unlimited
ideas and imagination. There are so many art forms
that we haven’t yet covered and some art that we
haven’t yet discovered.

In 1924, Andre Breton, leader of a group of poets
and artists in Paris, France, wrote in his ‘Surrealism
Manifesto’ the definition of surrealism as “pure
psychic automatism by which one proposes to
express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other
manner the real functioning of thought. Dictation
of thought in the absence of all control exercised by
reason outside of all

to anything that has been discussed so far? Artists
participating in the surrealism movement sought
techniques such as automatic drawing and writing
to unlock ideas hidden deeply in their unconscious

51

Even more peculiar, whenever his parents would try to surprise him

Issue 01, April 2019

FoolnloIwG

Surrealism_Gallery

52

What Makes Art Good?

The goal of Surrealism_Gallery is to unite surrealist artists What makes art good?
from all around the world. The online gallery brings forward
artists’ work to as many people as possible in order to make No one will argue that imagination is especially important
it more accessible and popular. for art; more so this thesis is relevant for surrealism. I am
also convinced that the technical skill makes art good.
Due to the sometimes absurd and very much diverse Conceptual ideas and skill makes art great.
subject matter, surrealism artwork is difficult to categorize
and ultimately to be searched for. This is especially true for
emerging artists who find it difficult to achieve fame on their
own.

The online surrealism gallery will give them the opportunity to
succeed, and it will also give the audience an aesthetic pleasure
of viewing the magnificent paintings of talented artists from all
around the world. The gallery was founded in late October 2018
and in just four months has received a following of more than
10000 people. Our movement is not in vain.

Nora Duus

Andrew Ferez Oscar Seco
The Traveler, Jason Engle
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Issue 01, April 2019

Jos Leonard away from deadweight in order to get past the
obstacles of your own world, usually imposed by
Follow Jos on elements out of your control (eg. societal norms
Facebook @jos.leonard and implementation, expectations, etc.) When
looking at how Jos’ work relates to the lyrics of
the songs inspired by, we can not only see a clear
link between the themes but also the lyrics:

Jos Leonard is a self-taught artist from London. “We can’t continue wasting time
He has been painting since before he could
speak and is currently giving his talent to digital Day after day trying to find a new means of escape
painting. His main influences are drawn from (…)

And I can’t face the disconnect

music. I’ll shed the dead weight and rise”

“Music is intrinsic to this process and is often

what plants a concept in my mind. Whenever I “Although no one likes to speak about it, the
hear a track that clicks with me I get a drive to tracks I draw my inspiration from exemplified to
learn the inspiration behind it - reading lyrics, me the ability of art to communicate at the viewer
artist interviews and diving into the background or listeners own pace without pressure, which
of whatever made that piece come to be. It’s this is an amazing thing. Thankfully, this is far from
cycle of identifying with feelings and themes that unique to me though and the role of social media
and technology in making accessing material
crosses mediums like this much easier is, in my mind, one of its
in all kinds of real strengths. Across so many mediums you can
art and provokes see art acting as support and speaking to people
reactions, often who otherwise may well feel alone with whatever
reassuring or they’re dealing with. Be it illustrations, music or
sympathetic film, the effectiveness to communicate is what I
ones, that I find think makes it unique in a “this person gets it!”
really powerful. kind of way. With art it doesn’t have to be a bleak
conversation about something that most people
In turn, it’s hate opening up about, it can just be a subtle show
that message or of solidarity.”
expression that
prompts me to Another important point of influence in Jos’ work
start to throw is the environment he grew up in. Growing up
ideas on to a in borderline wilderness by the coast of Ireland,
page. I feel that nature became one of the major driving forces in
art (be it visual or his life; not only as a source of imagination but as
audio) that can offer that feeling of consolidation an entity that he feels he needs to protect.
is an excellent tool. The consistent theme of lots
of my current work has been expressing particular

aspects of mental health in conjunction with music “Conveniently for me it (nature) marries in to
that’s spoken to me on that subject.” music and mental health seamlessly. Research into

When we look at ‘The Disconnect’, we can the positive effects of both art and nature on mental

clearly see a theme of disassociation in a kind of health is pretty extensive now (and also really

expression of the difficult but necessary of cutting not rocket science). For me environmentalism

54

or take him anywhere he would show no excitement or emotion; only compliance.

What Makes Art Good?

transcends any politics. Even if you view it through example have consistently produced material about
a very narrow lens nature inspires brilliant art and both issues and have been excellent ambassadors for
cultivates good health- there are so many reasons the amazing work of Sea Shepherd and on a smaller
to fight for it. but absolutely no less important scale, tattoo artist
Sasha Nicole and her Black Heart Project have
So if I had to speak about my dreams as an artist created means to spread awareness and raise funds
it would be to lend my art and energy to causes for mental health charities like Mind.”
fighting for these issues. Some of my most respected
artists have used their platforms to these ends
excellently. Brighton based band Architects for

The Disconnect, digital painting, 2019 55

“ nature inspires brilliant art and cultivates good health- there are so
many reasons to fight for it.”

Issue 01, April 2019

56

Sleep This Away, digital painting, 2019

What Makes Art Good?

What makes art good?

“Personally to me, this is what makes art ‘good’; It’s a
unique communicator in that it requires no response
and yet offers a lot and in turn can create a platform
to champion and rally support for really important
issues that otherwise often end up swept under the
rug. If in the future I can use my art to similar ends
then I’ll be satisfied.”

These Colours Don’t Run, digital painting, 2019 57

Issue 01, April 2019

Or Menaged

Follow Or on
Instagram @or_menaged

Digital artist Or Menaged has been What makes art good?
drawing since the age of 3. Now a
young adult at age 18, he’s been striving “I think that what makes art great is the artist’s
to become professional in the next few years. He passion and idea, and our own ability to relate and
is greatly inspired by graphic novels, comics and put our own views or ideas upon art.
great immortal painters such as Rembrandht and
Goya. Art is great because of our ability to talk about art
and the ideas behind it.
Or Menaged’s artwork is a mix between traditional
and digital techniques, often portraying humanoid Keeping this in mind I think that something that
figures in dark and abstract environments. His has been a big influence on what we think makes
digital paintings are suggestive through the art great is it’s relevance to our day to day life.
sometimes religious symbols, and links can be
found between the characters portrayed and We see most art as a thing of beauty and not as
Egyptian mythology. The vibrant colours, careful something with a meaning behind it, until we
construction of contrast between subject and stumble upon something that speaks to us on a
environment, as well as the intriguing stories personal level, only then we actually take the time
emerging out of the frame towards the viewer to appreciate the piece and consider it “good art”.”
make Or Menaged’s art a definitive conversation
between artwork and the audience.

58

Their first guess was that he suffered from some sort of disorder,

What Makes Art Good?

59

Devil’s Advocate, digital, 2018

Issue 01, April 2019

Pink Dalia, 2018

Guilherme What makes art good?
Pantoja
“Colours and shapes are the minimalistic
Follow Guilherme on deconstruction of any modern piece, being the
Instagram @elguilhermee basis of any object in our daily lives. Let’s take in
www.guilhermepantoja.com consideration my collection “Flowers, Colours
and Shapes”, from 2018. Why would I classify it
Beyond the fact that Guilherme Pantoja attempts as good art? The compositions of the simple shapes
to explore the feelings inside a piece of art, along with the vibrant colours are arranged in such
he classifies himself as a flower/nature artist. a way to make the viewer feel specific emotions.
Consequently, Guilherme has a deep appreciation “Fire contrast” (the 1st piece of “Flowers Colours
for the aesthetic of natural beauty. and Shapes”) is the painting where I used warmer
Guilherme Pantoja argues that what a person colours inside a crooked frame. This framing
perceives as good or bad art can be heavily makes you feel unease, although it’s immediately
influenced by the environment and culture in contrasted by a warm feeling exposed by the
which they’ve been brought up. colours. This is what I would classify as good: a
balanced composition that is aesthetically pleasant
to see and also makes you not think but feel.”

60

but after extensive medical checks,

(Continued from p.51) What Makes Art Good?

minds while others attempted to depict dreams 61
and abstract thought. It is uncertain what dictates
good art for this movement – perhaps artists that
managed to go deeper down the rabbit hole were
considered better than those who only remained
at the surface of the logical mind.

It’s even more difficult to separate good art from
bad art in today’s world. Since the late 1800s artists
sought to deviate from classical art. Such examples
include Art Nouveau, Impressionism, Fauvism,
Expressionism, Op Art, Pop Art, Minimalism,
Conceptual Art and Contemporary Art.
Contemporary artwork (1970s –present) includes
(but is not limited to) post-modernism, feminist
art, street art and digital art. Unfortunately,
sometimes art is more of a business than an
attempt of creation and perfecting each other’s’
styles and technique.

Today’s art critics rarely describe good art or
bad art in absolutes and it seems that there is a
mentality of inclusion where everything is
appreciated as long as revenue can be made out
of it. The problem with this mentality is that
already established artists that don’t necessarily
bring something important to the art scene are
appreciated by art galleries and critics alike whilst
emerging artists that might have spent their entire
lives on research and studying, perfecting their
technique and bringing their imagination alive
will never achieve merit for their effort.

Subjectively, we believe that good art is the art
that manages to guide the viewer through a story.
In landscape photography for example, different
ratios and rules are used in order to guide the
viewer’s gaze towards the subject matter of the
photograph. Similarly, form, content, colour and
other elements are used in the fine arts in order
to communicate with the viewer. If an artwork
managed to direct your attention towards the
issues of today’s world, manages to make you
feel a certain emotion or simply lets you glimpse
a certain moment in time then in our eyes that
artwork qualifies as good. Escape Art Magazine
aims to promote art that starts conversations
between the artist and the audience. We urge you
if you haven’t already, to spend several minutes
if not longer, with each artwork featured in our
magazine. See if the image manages to speak to
you and if it does listen.

Issue 01, April 2019

Want a chance to be featured here or one of our othe

Mahima Tiwari

Instagram @Kala_arcade

For me art is my life. It is the only thing that gives

me peace from within. After a long day at work

when I come back home all that makes me happy

is painting, sketching, calligraphy or any art. It has

become part of my daily routine. Art is something

which helps me to grow everyday bit by bit. I

was very conscious at first to showcase

my work to everyone but finally I did Esc A
it and made a page on instagram.
The overwhelming positive

response has helped me and

my art grow by everyday. Emer
So actually art is something
which has made me more
me. It has enhanced me in
every way possible.

Laura Marie Hansen Arti

We are now accep

Instagram @metamagda

Because the progress of creating helped
me personally on such a high level, I
developed the wish to help other facing
difficult times in their lives the same
way. I applied for a scholarship earlier
this year to help me finance the costs
of an art therapy studies. I‘m hoping
that afterwards I‘ll be able to help
others express their feelings, grow
from their experiences and help them
by teachinghow to help themselves
by expressing themselves in any
artistically way.

62

he showed no signs of any kind of abnormalities medically speaking.

er channels? Submit your work onWohaut Mr akweseAbrtsiGtoeod?
w w w. e s c a pe a r t m a g a z i n e. c o m

Edwin Holly

Instagram @originalnoblefriend

Art I am really proud of what I have become and I only
wish that my art brings people together and offers
them pure feelings of joy and happiness. Because
after all, what makes art good? I believe art can be

good if we model it with our own hands.

That is what I think makes art not
just good but beautiful too: not our
ability to paint or draw but our
own wild creativity.

rging

ists Abel Garcia Ramos

pting submissions

Instagram @siemprecriticando

Art is the best way for someone to express
themselves. I use my art to express my
thoughts in the world and offer a means
to escape daily routine. I love underlining
issues of the world through my work.

63

To be continued...

Esc Art

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www.escapeartmagazine.com

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@EscapeArtMagazine

Have your say ...

What do you think differentiates
good art from bad art? What do
you think the next art movement
will be? We invite you to discuss
your ideas on our Artist Forum
onour website. Let’s create
our own movement, let’s be
pioneers of a movement which
uses artwork as a means of
communication, helping our
audience escape from corruption
and bureaucracy to a state where
the mind wanders and creates.