Hilma af Klint had been a trained artist and did naturalistic paintings which she showed in her life time. She passed away in 1944 and upon her death it was stipulated her artwork could not be shown for at least 20 years. To me that was partially the hook, she never showed her spiritual paintings during her lifetime. It was as if she knew she was ahead of her time. She was born in 1862 started creating her large spiritual paintings in 1890, at the age of 28. These paintings were what is now known as large abstract paintings ripe with symbolism, geometric and circular patterns in a wide variety of colors. Her works were like NONE seen at that time. This was before Kandinsky!
Part of my fascination is the Abstract and the other part is the Spiritual. They certainly go hand in hand in Hilma af Klint's work and in my own. In fact I recently found a great book at my local city library "The Spiritual in Art; Abstract Painting 1890-1985" put out in collaboration with a variety of writers and artists, by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and published by Abbeville Press Publishers. I have it on loan right now. To my surprise, this artist Hilma af Klint is in this book.
Ten pages written by Ake Fant cover this Swedish artist.
It does amaze me, how everything does prove to be connected. I checked this book out 5 days ago and so far had just looked at the artworks and not really did any reading of what might be new information for me to gather and learn. All I can say is there truly is a destiny to learn certain things at certain times and some one other than me is guiding this learning. That is a spiritual realm. I have noticed several times throughout my life when I first learn of something I often discover something else within that day or week that shows me more information on the subject. And /or I discover this information was available to me earlier in a different format and I did not pay attention to it.
She worked in a variety of artistic mediums although typically the spiritual paintings were done as oils on canvas. Most of her abstract paintings were done while in a trance, meditation and under spiritual direction. In 1914 she started to work in watercolor and in a smaller scale. She kept many notebooks detailing her journey into unconsciousness, recording what was happening as she painted and how she was being led to paint and to enter the astral plane. Many critics say these paintings could be called automatic paintings. While others claim she really painted the first abstracts in the world.
It's a shame this artist didn't get the recognition she deserved in her life time. In some way I could connect because I remember paintings i did in the nineties where people told me I was ahead of my time. I don't think I will write a 20 year hold in my will though. However, I do hope that within a year or two of passing that my loved family and friends will hold retrospects of my life's work. However, no one can really know what will happen once they have left the earth.
If I am painting for myself and not a commission, gallery request or school assignment; I find I feel freer and have less judgement on it. I go with the spirits where ever they want to take me. Sometimes my grandfather, ( C. Talbot an oil painter from MA) will speak with me and say use this color, move your brush this way. Other times a dear friend that I painted with for 15 years; will say Jeanee you need to paint. Get a big canvas out; use big brushes.... and so on. I love the spiritual realm and the spirits that guide me, I do not always know who they are.
May the spirits be with you.
Jeanee
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