Through An Artist’s Eyes

For many of us, we would describe the color of a cloud as white with perhaps a few variations. To an artist, however, there are a multitude of shades of white, blues and greys. When they add value and intensity, arrange them in a pleasing composition, the simplicity of clouds becomes a masterpiece. To look beyond that which is familiar and the ability to translate the subsequent emotional responses are the most important skills for an artist to master. They find their inspiration because they are curious to question and adventurous to experiment and explore another realm of possibilities. Artists have the power to inspire or incite because they think from their heart.

While living in Vienna, Austria, Alfred Dolezal encountered a humorous experience which influenced him to paint The Four Illusions . During the 1980’s, a certain painting by the renowned Austrian artist, Hundertwasser, was displayed and admired for over a year in an attractive modern art gallery. When the artist visited, he claimed that it was hanging upside down! Alfred was inspired to paint a picture with images on all four sides so this mistake could not happen with his work. See if you notice all four:

A landscape (fig. 1)

A sitting, reading woman (fig. 2)

A profile of a face (fig. 3)

Narcissus, in love with his own reflection (fig. 4)

This painting, as in many others, incorporates Alfred’s credence that some of the most obvious premises as they appear to man are an illusion. Throughout his years teaching art, he has repeatedly told his students that everything affects everything- to look at the whole field rather than an individual object, asking again and again, “what are your lines doing for your picture?” They are reminded to strive for a unique perspective while inserting their own special interest into the creative process. That’s what makes work interesting.

Another experienced artist explained her journey:

“Art is how people express thoughts, emotions or experiences. It’s how we share our stories. It’s a window into another person’s world, whether literally or figuratively. Art is language. It shows us how others see and think about the world. It stimulates thought, understanding and action in a way that nothing else can.”

Alfred invites you to drop by his gallery in Terrebonne to view some of his revolutionary and visionary paintings. Let his symbolic artwork help to explain the law of cause and effect and why the world is our self-portrait. alfreddolezal.com