The routes of modern art go way back to the mid-late nineteenth century, where traditions in the creation of art were thrown aside for experimentation and fresh ideas about the nature of materials and functions of art. Some of first modern artists of the age were impressionists Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin. Romantics, Realists and Impressionists were the pioneers of this adventurous new way of looking at things, drawing inspiration from a vast and varied range of sources such as Japanese printmaking.
The time of experimentation has developed into a blossoming and diverse industry today. Modern art is prevalent, with thousands of artists approaching modern art in extremely diverse and unique ways. Andy Warhol is one of the most famous modern artists of the twentieth century, becoming a leading figure in the art movement known as pop art.
There are artists alive today, still pushing the boundaries and producing art that is both adventurous and popular with people who perhaps aren't even particularly enthusiastic about art.
Such artists include the likes of Doug Hyde and Alexander Millar. Both of these artists create works which depict a character, featured frequently throughout their works. This forms a bond to the entire series of works; when they are viewed together, you gain more of an understanding and feeling for the characters and the atmosphere behind each of the works.
Alexander Millar's artwork rarely shows the faces of the subjects, but rather their ambling figures with hunched shoulders. In words, this might sound rather cold and detached, but this is where the skill of the artist comes in to its own - these works have so much warmth and depth. There is a wealth of personality from each of Alexander Millar's pieces.
Similarly, Doug Hyde artwork stirs fondness within the viewer of his paintings for the subjects within them. Many of Doug Hyde's paintings feature the subject almost entirely filling the canvas in a bold scene, full of rich colours. They are always so happy, that the feeling of joy you see in the painting rubs off on the viewer with great ease.
A fondness and attachment to the artworks forms, and this is so key to why these modern artists are so successful - people are so drawn into the body of works that owning just one is rarely enough. These artworks are like collectables, and this is the way modern artists are changing the entire landscape of the art world. In order to stand out from the crowd, artists increasingly must create something that can instantly draw the attention of an audience, eliciting a response of great warmth and a need to have more than 'just one'.
The Enid Hutt Gallery is a Scottish Art Gallery selling art by hundreds of contemporary artists. This includes canvas prints, wall decor and sculptures by modern artists.
