[Frameworks] Painting directly to film

[MARILYN BRAKHAGE]

Obviously there are medium specific differences between painting on film (being of small size and time-based) and painting on a large, single canvas. But "abstract expressionism" can cover a fairly wide range of application, I think -- not simply and only referring to the broad, gestural strokes of so-called "action painting," for example. And Myron is right that Stan Brakhage was deeply immersed in and inspired by many painters who would be classified as abstract expressionist, and his painted work can be seen as much closer in spirit and aesthetic values to them than to any animation filmmaker I can think of. In fact, I would say that he extended the abstract expressionist form through the addition of movement -- though there are few filmmakers who have done it as well as he did, and many painted films do look more like simple animation, lacking the formal cohesion of a Brakhage film. 


From: "Myron Ort" <zeno at sonic.net> 
To: "Experimental Film Discussion List" <frameworks at jonasmekasfilms.com> 
Sent: Saturday, December 9, 2017 11:42:53 AM 
Subject: Re: [Frameworks] Painting directly to film 

I would say that the most of Brakhage’s extensive painting on film was inspired by the socalled Abstract Expressionist painters, I believe he said as much. 

Brakhage was certainly not painting or scratching (“cute”) little animated figures or the same tiresome (easy/lazy) cliches as most practitioners end up doing. 










On Dec 4, 2017, at 3:48 PM, Robert Withers < withersr at earthlink.net > wrote: 

Hi all, 
I am bemused by this topic since the questioner specifically referred to "abstract expressionist" painting on film There have been a lot of painters on film including myself, and kids I taught in film class. 
But I've never been aware of a painter on film who wasn't inspired specifically by the traditions and techniques of experimental or animated film, and the very technology of motion picture film itself. 

Abstract expressionists were very self-conscious of their specific practice (I don't remember who named the style). With the big expressionistic body-gestures it seems to have little to do with the careful, miniaturistic practices of painters on film, no matter how free the projected image looked. I fondly remember Brakhage's Persian Series which he created with a lightbox and painting kit on the tables of a Colorado Cafe. 

Maybe art historians of the future will link all free abstract images as "abstract expressionism" but I don't think so. 

Cheers, 
Robert 


WithersWorks.com 
202 West 80th St. #5W 
New York, NY 10024 


On Dec 3, 2017, at 7:00 AM, frameworks-request at jonasmekasfilms.com wrote: 


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Myron Ort 
www.zeno-okeanos,com 





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