WASSILY KANDINSKY, a Russian painter, printmaker, and art theorist who is credited with painting the first modern abstract works, was born in 1866 and became one of the most famous artists of the 20th century.

Composition VIII

DID YOU KNOW?

COLOR IS THE KEYBOARD, THE EYES ARE THE HARMONIES, THE SOUL IS THE PIANO WITH MANY STRINGS. THE ARTIST IS THE HAND THAT PLAYS, TOUCHING ONE KEY OR ANOTHER, TO CAUSE VIBRATIONS IN THE SOUL. - KANDINSKY

Though, Kandinsky was an accomplished artist, he too was a skillful musician playing the piano and cello. Music influenced his paintings, including the naming of his works such as Compositions and Improvisations. He used color in a theoretical manner associating tone with timbre, hue with pitch, and saturation with volume. He claimed to have seen color when he heard music.

A QUOTE FROM KANDINSKY

I APPLIED STREAKS AND BLOBS OF COLORS ONTO THE CANVAS WITH A PALETTE KNIFE AND I MADE THEM SING WITH ALL THE INTENSITY I COULD... - KANDINSKY

Kandinsky’s use of geometric forms can be connected to H. P. Blavatsky who spiritually influenced Kandinsky with his teachings of theosophical theory - that creation is a geometrical progression, beginning with a single point. The creative aspect of the forms is expressed by a descending series of circles, triangles, and squares. Kandinsky desired to find new forms with the extreme of geometric abstraction, which has provided us with an unparalleled collection of abstract art.

LYNN BANEY

Cosmic Configuration 1994

DID YOU KNOW?

The odd thing is when I created this work, I had never seen any of Kandinsky’s paintings until a New York art critic compared my work to his in a review for the New York Times. I realized I had been an unaware participant of the Hundredth Monkey Syndrome. I found that I too love incorporating random color and geometric elements strewn over the paper and allowed to interact without a hierarchical tectonic unity.

A QUOTE FROM LYNN BANEY

INSPIRATION IS UNIVERSAL AND CAN BE TRANSPORTED MIND TO MIND – LYNN BANEY

To view more of my work visit www.brownstoneartgallery.com