The Detail Obsessed Artist

The Detail Obsessed Artist

I had a thoroughly absorbing busy day alone in my tiny studio, doing what I love most. Absorbed in that timeless dimension, wandering free in that empire of detail.

Under-painting in egg tempera
and oil on new work -Stephanie Tihanyi

Under-painting on new work
(oil and egg tempera) Stephanie Tihanyi

 I am working on new painting, putting dark lights into the red/gold duo-chrome of the under-painting to gain a sense of depth and relief in the foliage and corner of the angels wings, seen in this detail.

 Next step would be to go over it again high-lighting with the egg-tempera (in the old masters of the Flemish tradition, such as Jan van Eyck), but that's a far off land for now. This ability to endure and even enjoy long hours alone hyper focusing on detailed work is a gift of my aspergers. For all the challenges that being on the autistic spectrum has given me, I would not ever, ever trade it for anything.

'Fear No Evil' (Painting)

'I Shall Fear No Evil' -by Stephanie Tihanyi (painting)
(all copyrights are held by the artist)





Detail 1

'I Shall Fear No Evil'
-by Stephanie Tihanyi (painting)
(all copyrights are held by the artist)

 The title of my painting is 'Fear No Evil'.   Before, I simply called it 'the beast' or 'the  star'  or something. I never really knew what it was going to be called because it was a work that came together and developed, as the painting progressed over many months of meditations. The recent atrocities wrought in this world drew back a veil on its meaning and nature of the words taken as the title, from the bible: Psalms 23, verse 4 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil'





detail2

'I Shall Fear No Evil'
-by Stephanie Tihanyi (painting)
(all copyrights are held by the artist)

detail 3

'I Shall Fear No Evil'
 -by Stephanie Tihanyi (painting)
(all copyrights are held by the artist)

The central figure of the beast, who stands proudly in the gates of purgatory. From under his flaming wings reigns a showers of blood, showing he sheds blood of mankind, where ever he goes. Behind him there is a trail of black flags of fanaticism, hate and violence. Central in the painting, in the back ground is the winged angel of death, who stand with sword planted firmly in front of him. A figure, a woman stands in the intimidating and dominating gaze of the beast but her attention is not there, its caught on a brilliant light, high above the mountains of the darkened valley. The light casts a path of rainbow hued rays. In spite of the peril of , rape, torture, slavery, death, she is safe from the forces of evil, with one hand holding white bloom, signifying purity of spirit, the star of mercy, guides the souls path during the darkest ravines on the way to higher planes




detail 4

'I Shall Fear No Evil' -
by Stephanie Tihanyi (painting)
(all copyrights are held by the artist)

Progress on the latest painting

'I Shall Fear No Evil' -by Stephanie Tihanyi (painting)
(all copyrights are held by the artist)

Still working on this one steadily, in between smaller works. Its coming along in its own way, I have no image of the intended look or content, just letting it develop on its own. Just recently begun to add an angel in the mid top section, it kinda of appeared on its own, I already know it will hang from above, holding a sword down as if marking the boundaries of heaven and hell. Still a lot more to do, but want to finish it, before I present it for viewing at a small opening evening in a local art café, in mid December. It will not be for sale there, but I would like to introduce people to the art work of visionary art.

The Beginning Of A New Painting

Detail of the under painting of my new work- Stephanie Tihanyi

I have begun a new painting. So far, I have only just worked upon the under-painting, following the techniques of the old masters, instructed to me by my professor Philip Rubinov Jacobson, who was directly taught by Ernst Fuchs, the founder of the Viennese school of Fantastic Realism. I started upon a ground of English red earth and egg tempera mixture, and the began to work on the under painting in titanium white and egg tempera. This image to me is very powerful and instinctual. It requires a lot of energy and fortitude to  draw forth this painting, a bit like cycling up a long steep hill emotionally.
Sometimes you look into the light, sometimes you choose to look into the dark...
 today I work on under-painting a detail of my new work, it features the
beast of the apocalypse , its about the beast of ones own apocalypse.  Confronting our darkness of our past, needs a certain level of understanding (light) to be able to make sense of what we uncover, plus courage. I am fascinated with the darker side, it is a mystery, most times a tyrant,  so a worthy opponent to confront. I understand its not a path for everyone. In myths it is the hero, that boldly walks into the depths of Hades to extract the treasure or wisdom or take back something stolen. To the ancient Greeks, the daemonic appears not only through elements “inside” the self—the passions, the blood, but also “outside” the self—in wind, rain, fire, animals. Plato understood, its the dynamic unrest that exists in us all that forces us into the unknown, leading to self-destruction and/or self-discovery. In Japanese Shinto, Buddhist tradition its known as theTengu.

The best book on Visionary Art 'Drinking Lightening- Art, Creativity & Transformation

me with Phil's book 'Drinking Lightening- Art, Creativity & Transformation'

I received it at last, by ocean freight, Philip Rubinov Jacobson 's book Drinking Lightning: Art, Creativity and Transformation Where he accounts his own journey into and discovery of the art and artists, of 'the invisible tribe' of Visionary Artists. A linage that tracks far back through the ages and across the globe. An historically important, a now steadily re- connecting tribe, who's existence still remains largely ignored and
denied by the art establishment today.

New paintings, new techniques

sketch from dream
-Stephanie Tihanyi
(all copyrights held by artist)

This is a some of the work I am currently doing. I have already begun to use what I have read, about the 'mische' technique of the old masters. I am very excited and looking forward to learning more about it when I go to the workshop, taught by Prof. Philip Rubinov Jacobson in Austria this year.
This painting came from a series of sketches I did that were inspired by a dream of an angel I had and wrote about earlier. The Angel is giving the spiritual water of life from the holy cup. The angel is a messenger and it carries a message across a great distance as  

detail of painting 'Cup of Abundance' by Stephanie Tihanyi
(all copyrights held by artist)

detail of painting 'Cup of Abundance' by Stephanie Tihanyi
(all copyrights held by artist)

  seen in the far off spinning galaxy in the above right-hand upper corner. There is a lot going on in this work subconsciously, that is far exceeds my conscious minds ability to explain. Its like I have to paint it first to understand it later. I glimpse pieces and bits but have not got the time to go into it right now. For me, realizing the image, is something that has to come first. The angel sits in a lush shady tropical lowland, with waterfalls behind and a landscape that sweeps upward into forests and snow-capped mountains that merge with the stars, nebulae, and constellations of a light filled heaven. Also present in the landscape is a small local hawk, the American Kestrel, known locally here in the Caribbean as 'gli-gli, a name that came from the Caribe Indians.
It means 'fearless one', a warriors symbol and a symbol of courage. In its claws it has a small iguana. This shows that all earthly life is also bound with the law of earthly death.The angel holds out the cup, full of the water of spiritual everlasting life, its beckoning light draws in moths from all corners of the darkness.

detail of painting 'Cup of Abundance'
 by Stephanie Tihanyi
(all copyrights held by artist)

 There's is much to add in this work yet so I will write again more in time as I go. I don't know why but I feel compelled to look into the myths Sir Gwain and the Green Knight and the Holy Grail stories to explain more. The work is still in progress and still in layers of various under painting and color-glazing and not the color of the intended final colors


Unfinished stages of my painting-
detail of painting 'Cup of Abundance' by Stephanie Tihanyi
(all copyrights held by artist)
 

:

Now a Member of the Society for the Art of Imagination

Since the beginning of last month (March), I was accepted into the Society for the Art of Imagination.
 The Society is one of the largest Fantastic, Visionary and Surreal artist groups in the world, with over 400 artist members in 23 countries.


Flight of the Bride-Brigid Marlin

Origin and History of The Society for Art of Imagination
In 1961 a group of artists from England, dissatisfied with the way the art world was going, began to work together, calling themselves the Inscape Group. They were Diana Hesketh (1931--), Peter Holland, .Brigid Marlin (1936--) Jack Ray and Steve Snell (1946-). They worked together to experiment with different ideas and techniques. Their progress may be summarized as follows:

Brigid Marlin

1966 One member of the Inscape group, Brigid Marlin, went to study with Ernst Fuchs in Vienna. She was able to learn the Mische Technique, which was recieved with enthusiasm by other members who began to work with, and teach the technique in England, Europe and America.

Ernst Fuchs

1968 Members of the Inscape group were invited by Ernst Fuchs to come to Wartholz Castle, to his Summer Seminar, where artists from all over the world came to exchange ideas, and work together experimenting with old and newly evolved techniques. The Summer Seminar continued for seven years under the direction of Wolfgang Manner, and brought about great art and great friendships.

1972 As artists from different countries worked to promote each other and the cause of fine art, World-wide Exchange Exhibitions were set up in different countries and the Inscape Group became known as Inscape International.



 

   Adam and Eve-Ernst Fuchs     

1973- 1992 Inscape International. went on to exhibit in Paris, Ireland, Holland, Sweden, Tokyo, the United States and Canada. Lectures and classes were given on the Mische technique in Europe, the United States and Canada,

1993 Professor Ernst Fuchs summoned some of the Inscape artists to meet at Grafenegg Castle near Vienna to discuss the way forward towards promoting the Art of Imagination. He asked each artist to work towards this end. He had by now founded The Ernst Fuchs Museum in the villa built by Otto Wagner, and was planning an International Museum for Fantastic Art at the Saxe-Coburg Palais in Vienna.

1994 Maurizio Albarelli launched a major Exhibition "Du Fantastique au Visionnaire", the largest of its kind ever to be staged, at the Zitelle Cultural Centre, Venice, which included the work of many members of Inscape International.

1996 Rosemary Bassi organized the first of several shows of Fantastic paintings and sculpture inclluding Inscape International Members at her Galerie Rolandseck near Bonn, Germany

1997 Inscape International decided to expand their Membership and work to help to promotion of Imaginative Art around the World. To facilitate this it changed its name to The Society for Art of Imagination. Ernst Fuchs agreed to be Honorary President.

1998 The Society for Art of Imagination launched a World Premiere- the very first Open Exhibition for Art of Imagination. It took place at the Mall Galleries, London. Virginia Rogers, a patron of vision, pledged to the Society $10,000.00 every year to distribute as prize money.

H R Giger

1999 The Erlangen Museum near Nurnberg, Germany, arranged a huge exhibition "Phantastik am Ende der Zeit" planned by Dr. Christine Ivanovic. The show was arranged in historical order , starting with the early woodcuts and engravings of Schongauer 1481, and Altdorfer c 1511, then on to the paintings of Bosch and Breughel, followed by Ensor and Munch, Max Ernst, Dali , and Paul Wunderlich. The Vienna School of Fantastic Realism was well represented, and the Exhibition displayed the work of many Members of The Society for Art of Imagination .The Exhibition formed part of a Symposium on Fantastic Art and attracted more than 10,000 visitors.

Martina Hoffman

1999 & 2000 The Open Exhibition for Art of Imagination at the Mall Galleries continued. This Exhibition had now become a very popular annual event, giving artists of Imagination a public forum, and a chance to win valuable prizes. Many artists have been discovered through showing there, and have been taken up by visiting art dealers. The money awards helped artists who were finding it hard to survive.

A Magazine called Inscape was launched by the Society, to appear twice annually.

Lectures and classes were set up to spread the knowledge of good techniques in painting and sculpture. 

De Es Schwerthberger

 2001 H R Giger agreed to be an Honorary Patron, and invited Vonn Stropp, 1st Prize-Winner of the Art of Imagination Exhibition 2000 , and other members of the Society to visit his home in Switzerland, and travel with him to the H R Giger Museum at Gruyeres. An Exhibition of Members' work at his Museum was discussed.

Damien Micheals

2001 Damian Michaels from Australia, a Member of the Society for Art of Imagination and Editor of the 

Michel de Saint Ouen

acclaimed magazine "Art Visionary", launched the opening of his International Collection of Fantastic and Visionary Art at the Orange Museum, Australia, which was opened by the Director of the Society or Art of Imagination. The Exhibition was recieved with great enthusiasm and praise for its excellent quality. A special workshop on the Mische Technique was also organised in Melbourne.

(excerpt from The Society for Art of Imagination) website 

Philip Rubinov Jacobson

 




In June this summer, I will be attending a month long workshop in Vienna, Austria with Prof. Philip Rubinov Jacobson 


Philip Rubinov Jacobson

to learn the secret Mische Technique of painting with layers of egg-tempera and resin/oil glazes, shown here below in the first stages by the brilliant master painter, Madeline von Foerster



Mische Techique demonstrated by Madelaine von Foerster

 

I will talk more about the Mische Technique and the up coming workshop in my next post soon. Please check out and like my Facebook page for updates on my current work Artist Tihanyi

one of my current paintings in progress - Stephanie Tihanyi

Picturing Depersonalisation - Cloven Consiousness

The Compassion of the Birds - by Stephanie Tihanyi
(all copyrights held by the artist)
 

Dual-consciousness, double-consciousness, cloven-consciousness, various names for a particular type of human psychological phenomena. Basically its the experience of having two consciousness's operating at the same time. Its not a common experience and far as I can learn, is a dissociative disorder. Its an form of depersonalisation.
My personal experience is that experiencing yourself as two separate people is a very disturbing sensation. Sometimes when I am doing something, working, socializing, relaxing, I get the sense of another other self watching within or even having thoughts or experiencing emotions that I do not have, that are certainly not anything to do with my current external situation or even my present thoughts at the time and that don't even seem to belong to me. But clearly they come from my own self, not one that I recognize.

Sometimes these feelings and sounds can be very inappropriate to the current moment. For instance hearing a woeful sobbing coming from inside when at dinner or greeting clients of friends. Hearing angry or aggressive remarks when talking with someone you like or who you know likes you. Usually but not all, these are appearances of unwanted, repressed and socially jeopardizing emotions that threaten my social interaction. Sometimes I have been alone and also experienced this. These are called 'made thoughts and feelings', also a dissociative symptom.

There is another side to this depersonalization experience. That is, being on the other shoe, as they say.
This side is more unsettling because in the first example at least you are the one in control, in the drivers seat. In this one you're in the back seat and what's more the driver don't even know you exist!. Its like you just a passenger in someone else's life.
For example: I can be having a stressful day, thoughts on my mind and a lot of anxiety, intense negative feelings of sadness. I am absorbed and experiencing overwhelming feelings from thoughts of traumatic memories and then Bam!, I am challenged to respond to the present moment, to a friend, spouse or neighbour, who interacts with me and I experience an intense moment of panic. I must respond, but not as I am, they cannot see me as I am. Suddenly I am feeling I have receded. I hear these words come out of my mouth in the present and its not my words. I didn't put them together. I sort of sit here in the back hearing (my) witty remarks and complex responses and feeling chuckles vertebrate in my chest and all the while I am not aware of any of these thought processes or memories that created them, all I have is these other intense emotions. its so weird, its like someone else is running the show. I couldn't consciously act this well even if I tried. Sitting here in the back of my head, I am thinking, 'how the hell does she do that?', how the hell does that happen?'. I feel anxiety and dismay at the same time. How can this fake bitch carry on chatting with light and ease when I am here in the background with these horrible feelings?. Its like a betrayal. This goes beyond covering up ones feelings. I have tried to act not scared or hurt or sad when I am not but never managed the effortless ease my other self has achieved it, with such autonomy in these experiences. I suspect this self cannot even be aware I exist.

Luckily this experience although can be frequent during stress times only last about 20 minuets or so. Recently I have become aware that this "fake bitch" as I call this other self is not acting, is not actually aware of me and the feelings but is trapped on the other side of the defensive wall of dissociation I created. This is the flip side, the other side of the coin, the other experience I was talking about above. I was experiencing life as the suppressed thought/feeling self. Its all me, but experienced at times as separate. It is my hope that I can learn better self communication that will help minimize this chronic depersonalization. By exploring it in my personal art therapy, as all my art is actually, I hope to depict both experiences in painting, and try to foster a more global awareness in my self.

Feb 2013: Since this old post I have learnt much and add these links that help explain the experiences in my article

Depersonalization (or depersonalisation) is a malfunction or anomaly of the mechanism by which an individual has self-awareness. It is a feeling of watching oneself act, while having no control over a situation. Depersonalization, de-realization is the single most important symptom in the spectrum of dissociative disorders .
Individuals who experience depersonalization feel divorced from their own personal physicality by sensing their body sensations, feelings, emotions and behaviors as not belonging to the same person or identity. Often a person who has experienced depersonalization claims that things seem unreal or hazy. Also, a recognition of self breaks down (hence the name). Depersonalization can result in very high anxiety levels, which further increase these perceptions.
- Wikipedia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EElHtEskBhE

Dr Cheryl Arutt on Creativity and Trauma :