• Painting
  • Photography
  • Graphic Design
  • Featured Commissions
    • Tomorrow Ideas, Inc Offices Seattle, WA
  • About
    • Bio
    • CV
    • Artist Statement
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Calendar
  • Subscribe
  • Menu

Julian Pena Studio

Paintings - Prints - Installations - Commissions
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Graphic Design
  • Featured Commissions
    • Tomorrow Ideas, Inc Offices Seattle, WA
  • About
    • Bio
    • CV
    • Artist Statement
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Calendar
  • Subscribe
ito01.jpg
ito02.jpg
ito01.jpg ito02.jpg

Eccentricity: The Realm Between the Normal and the Crazy

January 24, 2019 in Art History, Art Research, Culture Study

This is what I end up scrounging for in my head: “It is neither representational, abstract or non-objective…” In an effort to not sound like I don’t know what I’m doing, I push my academic research further. I often spend time reviewing millions of books on color theory, Japanese art history, manga, other artists’ works, and art-related online content. In between full time day job and school, I paint to hone my techniques. Ultimately, I end up with something absolute that is brought to life from my very own mind. It is already understood that I am still an art student trying to make a name for him and discover who I really am as an artist. It isn’t until recently I have discovered a much clearer way to describe my work: eccentric. 

In Japanese art history beyond the 17th century to today, the art become more commonly “eccentric.” Many of these online sources derive information from literary works of a great art historian by the name of Nobuo Tsuji. He wrote two books: “The Lineage of Eccentricity” and “The Categories of Eccentricity.” This concept of “eccentricity” inspired many artists such as Takashi Murakami (one of my favorite artists). These books described certain artists like Ito Jakuchu, Katsushika Hokusai, and Kano Sensetsu (all of which are very important to Japanese art history). Being classified as “eccentric” basically means to utilize techniques that are not orthodox or “Westernized” (from the Japanese perspective).

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about “eccentricity”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccentricity_%28behavior%29

I’ve never been so confident about my figure drawing skills, yet I am confident with other aspects like color theory and aesthetics/design. Takashi Murakami founded his “Superflat” art movement based off of this information. I am not trying to follow that movement, but instead trying to develop my own by the time I get my Masters in Fine Arts. Though the similarities are present, I plan to survey more connections between Western and Eastern attitudes. So for the next person that asks me what type of art I create, I tell them “eccentric.” In the future I will develop more on this idea and post them along the way.

ito20.jpg
ito21.jpg
ito20.jpg ito21.jpg

Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou is the name for a group of eight Chinese painters active in the eighteenth-century, who were known in the Qing Dynasty for rejecting the orthodox ideas about painting in favor of a style deemed expressive and individualist.

A sculpture in The "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" Memorial Hall in Yangzhou depicting the eight eccentrics. Second photo is an ink and color on paper rendition of a cat and a bamboo plant by Jin Nong.

For the past several years I have toyed with utopian/dystopian settings, fictitious characters that is beyond understanding, numerous bold colors, and the manga-inspired aesthetic in my works of art. I never thought of how to describe my creations until people started asking me. What do I say and what do you think (www.julianpena.com)?

Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas . Part of the series  Dōshoku sai-e.

Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas. Part of the series Dōshoku sai-e.

Works by KAWANABE KYOSAI.

ito11.jpeg
ito12.jpeg
ito13.jpeg
ito14.jpeg
ito11.jpeg ito12.jpeg ito13.jpeg ito14.jpeg
Madame de Meuron with her characteristic  ear trumpet .

Madame de Meuron with her characteristic ear trumpet.

Works by Ito Jakuchu.

Tags: eccentrics, edo period, japan, japanese art, japanese artists, takashi murakami, ito jakuchu
Prev / Next

J. Peña Studio Blog

Art and academic writings from Julian Peña Studio. He studied at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He currently works out of Blue Cone Studios. Experiences derived from his commissions, live art gigs, workshops, event productions, and private sales.


Featured Posts

Featured
Jan 24, 2019
Eccentricity: The Realm Between the Normal and the Crazy
Jan 24, 2019
Jan 24, 2019
Jan 17, 2019
Past Experiences in Nihonga: Japanese Mineral Pigment Painting
Jan 17, 2019
Jan 17, 2019
Aug 7, 2018
Otaku: The Obsessed Culture
Aug 7, 2018
Aug 7, 2018
Aug 7, 2018
The Historical Impression of Ukiyo-E: How It Transcended the Floating World
Aug 7, 2018
Aug 7, 2018
Aug 7, 2018
PANTONE 18-3838 ULTRA VIOLET, PANTONE® COLOR OF THE YEAR 2018
Aug 7, 2018
Aug 7, 2018
Aug 5, 2018
Observations in Anime and Manga
Aug 5, 2018
Aug 5, 2018