environment painting

environment and nature topic

two studies

Environment and nature: Like all of us, I am of course concerned with the subject of nature and the environment and I try occasionally to get as good a picture of our situation as possible. Which isn’t that easy. Firstly, our politicians are tricking like shell players at the fair. Secondly, different countries use different key figures, or different aspects are completely ignored.


Apart from the fact that I go on a long-distance trip once a year, and buy spices and other foods from distant countries, which are often imported by plane, I consider myself to be quite environmentally friendly. At least I thought so. Some time ago, my son calculated how big my ecological footprint is – and I was dismayed. At least twice as high as it should be. And that’s despite the fact that I don’t have a car any longer, shop consciously, sort my waste, etc. However, I should be in the lower midfield when I look at the international figures. How we will ever get a grip on the problem becomes exciting when we consider that in the fat years, we did little to improve the issues at hand and now that the global economy is creaking at every turn, the challenges become more pressing.

Of course, we always have to do our best. Still, I always find it difficult to imagine how we can get the issue of environmental destruction under control in the foreseeable future with our economic and geopolitical challenges and an economic model that has to constantly generate profits and cannot or does not always want to pay attention to sustainability.

Two Studies for Paintings

Occasionally I also try to paint one or the other study, but without knowing exactly what I actually want. And whether I want to address this area artistically at all. Accordingly, my attempts are half-baked. I don’t want to paint devastated landscapes and yet express unease with the impending danger.

environment painting
environment

In addition to reflections on the subject of air pollution, I was concerned with some aspects of the composition. I already mentioned that I like to divide pictures into two halves (yin :: yang). I haven’t really gone into the fact that there often are also independent scenes within the picture, which differ in perspective but fit together in the overall painting.

The head of a screaming man can be seen better in the original image.

painting of environment topic upper part

In order to get some decorative touch, I used cubist elements, which help to create a kind of veil over the picture.

environment topic details

The atmospheric scene at the bottom left has also been destroyed.

details of painting environment

The scene on the top left, on the other hand, is meant to be reminiscent of a bird’s-eye view of a beach and appears just as sad.

details of environment painting

study two

I did this a few weeks ago, similar in the topic, but with a different approach. It was something of another gimmick on the “Poetry from the Sky” theme. I toyed with the idea that one day it won’t be raining down poetry, but something less joyful.

crap at the beach
And who’s going to clean up this crap now?

Note on TV Portrait:

The announced TV portrait will first be broadcast on Austrian television (Tandem). On 05/27 20:00. That’s good airtime πŸ™‚

Comments

43 responses to “environment and nature topic”

  1. mic avatar

    πŸ‘ŒπŸ‘ŒπŸ‘ŒπŸ–Ό

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! πŸ™‚

  2. swabby429 avatar

    I like the Cubist touches. They hint at stark reality without lending to a dystopian theme.

  3. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

    Many thanks! The approach is probably ok, but the execution has its flaws. As usually when I think too much while painting.

  4. babsje avatar

    I really like the image showing the Cubist approach! My eyesight is poor but that one comes through so clearly, beautifully. And I agree with your text commentary.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much! I wish my paintings could fly like your herons πŸ˜€ I keep on working…😎

  5. Traum(A)Kinder avatar

    An den Bildern mag ich sehr die Spannung zwischen Licht/Hell und Dunkel. Bei jedem wieder betrachten entdecke ich Neues in einer interessanten Vielschichtigkeit.
    Übrigens glaube ich, dass Menschen immer Lâsungen gefunden haben für die Probleme, die sie erschaffen haben. Hoffen wir auf Überlebenswillen und KreativitÀt.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Vielen lieben Dank! Das freut mich sehr, da es in meiner Absicht liegt, entsprechend der Überlegung, dass wir nie in den gleichen Fluss steigen. Ja, hoffen wir, dass sich die Menschen fΓΌr das Richtige entscheiden! Es liegt immer an uns, wie wir mit Neuem umgehen. Liebe Grüße aus Wien! β˜€οΈπŸŒΉπŸΈ

  6. Stacey C. Johnson avatar
    Stacey C. Johnson

    Friedrich, these are brilliant works. They manage somehow to walk that fine line between honest witness to devastation, a sense of overwhelm, and some shimmering, ephemeral hope. Thank you so much for sharing them.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you, Stacey, flr your kind words! I was hesitant to show it off as I’m not 100% happy with it. But I am pleased that the basic idea is understood and appreciated. πŸ™‚

  7. Priti avatar

    Great work! πŸ‘ŒπŸ‘Œ

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! πŸ™‚

      1. Priti avatar

        ☺️

  8. rabirius avatar

    For me, the first picture shows the environment (or the weather) being out of joint.
    The second one looks like many abstract birds to me. So I would say something beautiful is coming from the sky.

  9. Rosaliene Bacchus avatar

    Fascinating, Friedrich! >In “Study One,” I did not notice the partial face in the top right. My immediate impression was that of a parched landscape without any visible sign of greenery. >The stuff falling from the sky in “Study Two” brings to mind real-life incidents of dead birds falling from the sky. There is also a sense of toxic fallout made visible.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much Rosalie! I am very pleased to hear that these humble works are enjoyed. I tackle the subject occasionally, but I think I need some time to get better at it. Hopefully there will still be something from our environment that I can paint πŸ™‚

  10. Dominik Alexander avatar

    Like the cubistic styled ones. That’s something I haven’t seen done by you so far. I like the looking-through-a-prism effect. Will try to catch the documentary. Thanks for posting πŸ™‚

  11. Edith avatar

    Lieber Friedrich, auch ohne deine Überschrift hΓ€tte ich sofort an das Dilemma Umwelt/Natur gedacht. Alles zieht nach unten, was mein Blick zuerst fokussierte – ein HΓ€ngenlassen aller bestehenden Dinge dazu – der Schrei der Verzweiflung, das erschreckende Auge des Vogels, das BrΓΆckeln von Felsen – ob Mensch ob Tier, ob Natur, das Leid wird in deinen Bildern ausgedrΓΌckt. Vielleicht sehen manche das Weiß als Hoffnung, auf mich wirkt es hier kalt. Ich sehe tatsΓ€chlich nichts, was einen hochziehen kΓΆnnte. Doch vielleicht liegt es daran, dass man sich dazu ja schon eine Meinung gebildet hat – nichts Wesentliches treibt voran, alles zieht nach unten….
    Einen feinen Sonntag mit ganz viel Freudigem wΓΌnsche ich dir von Herzen.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Vielen lieben Dank, Edith! Zum einen bin ich immer wieder begeistert von Deiner Treffsicherheit beim Lesen meiner bescheidenen Arbeiten, zum andern aber bin ich Dir sehr dankbar, da ich oft selbst nicht weiss, wie weit das rΓΌberkommt, was ich versuche, zu vermitteln. Fast wollte ich diesen Beitrag nicht schreiben, aber Leser wie Du ermutigen mich dann doch. Viel Sonne und die besten Wuensche aus Wien! f

      1. Edith avatar

        Sooo gern wΓΌrde ich mal mit dir gemeinsam vor deinen Werken stehen,sie in mich fließen lassen und sie dann mit dir diskutieren,lΓ€chel…aber wir wohnen nicht mal so nur ums Eck, also haben wir hier weiterhin Gelegenheit dies zu tun.
        Ich wΓΌnsche dir jetzt schon mal ein frohes Pfingstfest mit allem, was dir gut tut.
        Herzlichst, Edith

      2. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

        Vielen lieben Dank! Das ist natΓΌrlich ein wunderbares Kompliment! Aber sieh es so, manchmal sehen die Dinge aus der Ferne anregender aus als wenn man davor steht – und einem ein alter Mann die Ohren darΓΌber vollquasselt πŸ™‚

        SchΓΆne Pfingsten wΓΌnsche ich Dir ebenfalls! Jetzt passen ja auch die Temperaturen endlich. LG f
        Β 

  12. J M Negi avatar

    Fascinating indeed, thanks.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! πŸ™β˜€οΈ

  13. Emma Cownie avatar

    Poetry From the Sky – very intriguing painting. Perhaps I have a depressive nature but I saw those blacks form as rather sinister. It reminded me a little of a Bosch painting. Maybe it was the talk of your carbon foot print! Lol!

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Ha, thank you! Yes, Bosch appears in my work quite often. It would be interesting to see how Bosch would have dealt with the issue of environmental destruction today. Have a great day!

  14. Cindy Georgakas avatar

    These are gorgeous paintings Fredrick and I share your frustration and yet do my best to keep my carbon foot print low. I think we do our best and spread the word and celebrate the day like I am your beautiful expressions of your heart.. πŸ’ž

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much, Cindy! We will continue doing our best – as always πŸ‘πŸ˜πŸŒΉ

      1. Cindy Georgakas avatar

        You’re so welcome. Yes, we sure do!! πŸ’ž

  15. graham mcquade avatar

    Those calligraphic marks on the second painting appear completely apart from the background – like dead flies on the windscreen – which maybe was what you were after, Friedrich.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much, Graham! I did several of those, starting with more poetic touch and ending with disastrous scenes. Two layers versions are part of the playing around the topic.

  16. God avatar

    Very nice picture

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! πŸ™‚

  17. agndoden avatar

    If you are interested in light subject welcome on my blog: chapitrelumiere.wordpress.com

  18. Jeevita Rao avatar

    That’s great content you have there!
    Please take a look into my blog https://blogsnow0.wordpress.com/?p=9&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=11

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! πŸ™‚

  19. Bridgey avatar

    Evocative works. I find study two reminds me somewhat of the Garden of Earthly Delights (Hieronymus Bosch)

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! Someone else also associated Hieronimus Bosch with it πŸ™‚

  20. Bridgey avatar

    Ah I just scrolled up and saw that now. Sorry.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Don’t worry, please! I can’t hear enough of being associated with this great painter πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

  21. stolzyblog avatar

    Adds much to read a little about your process notes. πŸ™‚

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much πŸ™β˜€οΈ

  22. Geo. Raymond avatar

    Love your work.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! I am glas you like it! πŸ™‚

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