Andy Warhol - Essay Example

?Andy Warhol Andy Warhol1 This is Andy Warhol’s famous dollar sign painting. The painting represents dollar signs in different fonts and colors in a repetitive fashion. The color is offset; the color in the dollar signs in all fonts is darker than the background. The lines are not sharp. They are hazy and wayward as if drawn with a very lose hand. There are six dollar signs occupying most of the space on the canvas. Except for two, the rest touch the upper and the lower edge of the canvas. Starting from left, the first dollar sign is painted in a very dark maroon color with its shadow showing in red; a translucent hazy image of a dollar sign. The sign looks flat in comparison with the length of the canvas. The second dollar sign has light green background while the dollar sign is painted in purple color with orange shading. It might not be in drastic contrast with the background but it still gives the offset coloring. The next dollar sign has similar pattern; light blue background with light burgundy to fill the dollar sign. The notable thing is the hazy blue appearing as the shading within the dollar sign, which creates this hazy effect such that the viewer might feel drunk. The second row from the left has a different style of the dollar sign, probably representing the dollar currency of the old days, with two lines through the ‘S’. The contrast with the background is similar to the first picture. The last two signs have light blue and light green backgrounds respectively. It is oil on canvas piece of art. The advantage is to reflect the different collage of colors in each dollar sign. The point of repetition of dollar sign is to mock those people who separate business from art, those who think that apparently art and business are mutually exclusive. The choice of material makes an ordinary sign (the dollar sign appear more appealing). There are not many colors that people see in an ordinary looking thing that is the symbol of power, money and the American dream. Andy has tried to communicate his ideas about art and business through his work. To many the question of repeating the dollar sign is baffling. But Andy delivers a powerful message through this repetition that even art can be manufactured. His studio was named The Factory only to emphasize his philosophy that art can be dealt as a commodity. The repetition of the dollar sign mocks the people who try to separate the two. It is quite apparent what the artist is trying to do in the painting. For my own reaction to this painting I am nothing short of being in awe of Warhol’s work. There are many art students who think that living the life as an artist is hard with unstable or low income. Andy Warhol is considered one of the most successful artists; the top of those who made money through their art. Warhol proved that when the artist knows his skill inside out it is relatively easy to make money. Just like an experienced financier or investor can get through thick and thin and able to save his company, the same is the case with an artist; by simply painting a lame dollar sign in different colors, shades and backing it with a thought proved successful for him. He got fame and as a consequence got fortune so it conveys a very powerful meaning to me that we only need to figure out the way. Sometimes the path needs to be cut out but there is no such thing as dead end or rigidity in arts. I chose this particular piece for I am a fan of Andy Warhol’s work. I look up to his paintings when I need inspiration. When people tell me that my work isn’t good enough or when people doubt my abilities I read about Andy Warhol and look at his artwork. Today when a successful artist is known by the amount of money he makes, it is only imperative to learn the tricks of the trade. Without being recognized or being paid for the work, there is hardly any future to a talent, be it the fasted pitcher or the most skillful artist. The likes of Michelangelo and Da Vinci weren’t excused of this bitter reality of life. Warhol’s artwork is abstract and bears his trademark. He is deemed as the most highly paid artist of his generations. He is truly an inspiration for younger artists. He has proven through his own work that art has no boundaries. Even though he showed how art can be ‘mass produced’ his own art always pushed boundaries. No one can point figure at him for being the slave to the corporate world. He never limited his own free thinking despite making huge sums of money. Objective information 1. Objective analysis of the work? The artist Andy Warhol was in favor of mass production of the art. He did not worry about whether the painting would sell or not, his paintings usually create demand in their own realm. This painting (or a collection of dollar sign paintings) is a classic example. The play of color and the font creates extraordinary out of the ordinary. Oil on canvas is Andy’s choice of this painting and the skillful composition is due to the interplay between its colors. 2. Subject matter, cultural, meaning, and/or artists intent if known (these may not be known or obvious, however.) The subject of the painting is the business aspect of art itself. The dollar sign does not represent the economy but in fact how money dictates our lives. Probably Warhol has been successful in integrating art and business so much so that the broad definition of art “certainly includes manufactured objects” (Lewis and Lewis 33) Subjective response The painting brings nostalgic feelings to my mind. I see these fonts that look cartoon like. It is classic of the work from The Factory. The ay he painted these dollar signs in different colors and fonts is typical of Andy Warhol. I appreciate the innovation in it, the play of color and the contrast that brings out the essence of an ordinary dollar sign. Despite being repetitive each font is so different in color combination and composition. Sometimes it looks sharp and sometimes its looks hazy and sometimes outward fat and ugly. A representation of what the dollar mean to people. May be Warhol is trying to highlight the power of dollar or currency. Ultimately it determines the success or failure of an artist. It is only common sense to assume that much of the fame brought to Andy Warhol’s personality is attributed to the huge sums of money he received for his artwork, which only validates the philosophy of the artist. References Lewis, Richard L., and Susan I. Lewis. The Power of Art. 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2013. Print. Read More