ca92371@gmail.com
Welcome to Esarteric
Esarteric is a collection of fine art paintings and more representing the creativity and imagination of L Frederick Peterson. Explore his portfolio and his enigmatic abstract paintings, landscapes, surreal art and writing. Click on the link to see a slideshow of his art.
Abstract Art
In hues untamed my canvas set wide, My focus on the inside, To forms both wild and free, My pallet, my brush, a symphony.
Bold strokes of crimson, passion's flame, A splash of azure, calm and tame, They curiously clash yet somehow blend, a vibrant dance to transcend.
A burst of yellow with sunlit rays, Warmth derived from golden haze, Hope and dreams it speaks to me, A beacon high for all to see.
Shadows dance amidst the night, Blues and greens demand their right, Whispering secrets concealed in hues, To awaken the sleeping muse.
Lines converge from far away, Chaos ebbs in rhythmic sway, Symbols twist and then embrace, Like mirrors of a human face.
Textures weave from rough and smooth, Expressing life's divergent groove, A patchwork cast on canvas grain, Stretched across a wooden frame.
Shapes emerge like shards once whole, A fractured memory remnants old, Like pieces frp, a lost soul, Striving to be whole.
Each stroke, each color, a story, Joys and sorrow, loss and glory, An abstract tale to regail interpretation both today and the morrow.
So gaze upon my canvas, free and true, feel the mystical wind that blew, Bringing life to a creations, Suitable fodder I trust for your ideations. LFP
Portfolio
Recent Art
A small sampling of 2023 paintings from my studio in Georgia.
A small sampling of 2022 paintings from my studio in Georgia.
About Eric
L Frederick Peterson currently lives in Lake Park, Georgia. After graduating summa cum laude in social psychology, Eric earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in cognitive psychology. His art background includes fine art painting, illustration and design. His primary medium is synthetic polymer on flat and stretched canvas.
Psychology in art is a fascinating field worth exploring to examine how the thoughts, emotions, and perceptions of the artist influence the creative process. The process also seeks to understand viewer interpretation and response to art on both a conscious and unconscious level. Key points include the following:
Emotional Expression: Art is a powerful medium for expressing and communicating a wide spectrum of human emotions. Artists use various techniques, colors, and imagery to evoke emotional responses in viewers. Where some artists paint nostalgia, other artists may convey statements reflecting the human condition in their work.
Symbolism and Meaning: Art is rich in symbolism allowing artists to convey complex ideas or messages. Psychological theories such as psychoanalysis suggest artists project unconscious thoughts and desires into their work which can be interpreted and analyzed by viewers.
Perception and Perspective: Artists often experiment with different perspectives and visual illusions to challenge the viewer's perception. Principles like depth perception, color theory, and visual processing like closure, proximity, figure ground and pragnanz combine with memories and prior experience to influence art preception and interpretation.
Art Therapy: Psychology and art intersect in the field of art therapy which utilizes artistic expression as a therapeutic tool. Art therapists work with individuals to explore emotions, promote self-expression, and facilitate personal growth and healing. Art is also a form of self therapy whereby creative expression contributes to feelings of catharsus and well being,
Aesthetics and Beauty: Psychology examines how individuals perceive and evaluate beauty and aesthetics in art. Research in this area explores factors such as symmetry, color preferences and the impact of cultural and individual differences on aesthetic judgments. In short, the viewer enters into a cognitive contract, contributing dynamically to art through their thoughts, feelings and beliefs.
Influence of Context: The interpretation of art can be influenced by various factors including cultural, historical, and social contexts. Psychology helps explain contextual elements shaping understanding and appreciation of artworks.
Artistic Process and Creativity: Psychology delves into the creative process and the factors contributing to artistic inspiration and innovation. It explores cognitive processes such as divergent thinking, problem-solving and imagination underscoring how artists generate new ideas and produce unique artworks.
Overall, psychology in art offers insights into the psychological dimensions of artistic creation, perception, and interpretation. Creating art and experiencing art enhances our understanding of the human experience, emotions, and cognition through the lens of visual expression. In my view, art is a moving center of a creative wheel without limit or circumference. For me, art provides not only a vehicle for creative expression, it provides vitality and inspiration while nurturing a sense of child like curiosity and wonder as the inspirational journey progresses from a blank canvas to a finished artwork.
Gestalt psychology focuses on how humans perceive and make sense of the world around them. The emphasis is on holistic perception and the organization of visual elements into meaningful patterns. The principles of gestalt psychology describe the ways in which visual information is organized.
Figure-Ground Relationship: Our perception naturally segregates visual stimuli into a foreground (figure) and a background (ground). We tend to focus on the main object or figure while the surrounding elements form the background.
Law of Proximity: Elements that are close to each other tend to be perceived as a group or a unified whole. The principle of proximity states that we perceive objects that are near each other as belonging together and forming a single unit.
Law of Similarity: Similar elements tend to be grouped together. Objects that share similar characteristics such as shape, color, or size are perceived as belonging to the same group or category.
Law of Closure: We tend to mentally complete or fill in gaps in incomplete figures to perceive them as whole objects. Our minds fill in missing information and create closure, allowing us to see complete shapes even when some parts are missing.
Law of Continuity: We perceive lines or curves that follow a smooth, continuous path as belonging together. Elements that are aligned in a smooth, flowing manner are perceived as a single entity.
Law of Symmetry: Symmetrical objects are perceived as more organized and harmonious. We tend to perceive symmetrical shapes as complete and stable, even if some parts are hidden or incomplete.
Law of Common Fate: Elements that move in the same direction or have a common visual attribute are perceived as a group. We tend to perceive objects that share a common motion or behavior as belonging to the same unit or category.
These principles are present in my art to varying degrees. Gestalt psychology helps explain how perception is not simply a summation of individual elements, but a process of active organization and interpretation by the brain. I trust in viewing my art you will enjoy the interplay of gestaltens I have included both consciously and unconsciously. I tend to paint fast and with intuition in contrast to a blueprint or formalized expectation. For me, the journey is one of anticipation. Frequently I complete a work and when I return to it hours later, I am amazed to realize how my unconscious mind has created forms, figures and order not apparent to me during the process of painting.
Art my way
I can personally attest to the dynamic and fulfilling journey of art as well as the unique challenges and frustrations. My style of painting is a race between capturing inspiration and inevitable habituation from spending too much time on the same canvas. I frequently paint over earlier works and the challenge for me is deviating from the original painting. The mind remembers the original object and will unconsciously seek to repeat the original painting for cognitive consistency. This tendency is well documented in theories of cognitive dissonance. The mind locks in on an image and resists efforts to change it. Although I have explored art in several genres, I favor abstracts because they offer unique journeys of self-discovery. Landscapes and portraits duplicate objects, a process I find tedious and boring. Although everyone can certainly identify with the painting of a tree, abstracts continually evoke novel images from unique experiences inherent to each invididual.
The artistic journey for me is characterized by deep passion for self-expression and desire to push boundaries where new ideas and inspiration resides. The world is a playground for translating experience into artistic language expressed through creative mediums like painting, sculpting, writing, dancing, and performing. The life of an artist can resemble a rollercoaster ride. Perseverance and persistence are essential. Life as an artist is not for everyone. Arm chair critics are everywhere eager to pounce with opinions. Rejection and criticism form a crucible for character and determination for those possessing the drive to become an artist. The road to success is difficult to measure. Financial uncertainty gives rise to self-doubt. A nagging revulsion stems from creating works for financial reward at the expense of creative freedom. I find personal expression far less burdensome than painting for a commission. Expectations frequently hinder the creative process.
My formative years were devoted to continual sketching and drawing. I was offered a scholarship for art upon graduation from high school but entered the military during the Vietnam conflict. Soon thereafter my thoughts were preoccupied with providing for my family. Securing work in fields unrelated to art and can invite difficulties for artistic personalities. Imagine the frustrations when seeing your ideas ridiculed and rejected when perceived as inconsistent with the status quo. I found partial expression through stints in interior design, factory design, point of purchase displays, trade show exhibits, illustrating and even cartooning. Nevertheless, my job description was never in art and my passion for artistic freedom was continually denied.
In looking back I now realize the continual frustration, challenges and criticisms associated with working outside of my niche led me to the study of psychology. I readily delved into the various disciplines in psychology and eventually earned a doctorate in the area of cognitive dissonance. I was fascinated by the principles of Gestalt Psychology with emphasis on perceptions. Manipulating images, shapes and colors artists provides a platform for evoking powerful emotions in others. I am profoundly grateful I can now devote countless hours in my art. My studio windows face a forest and feels like an aerie perched high atop a tree providing unimpeded vistas and fodder for my imagination to soar.
Ultimately, life as an artist is an ongoing journey of self-discovery, self-evaluation and evolution. Like Robert Frost's "Road Not Taken," the path for an artist requires a deep commitment to perseverence, willingness to take risks, and the ability to embrace both the successes and the challenges along the way. Despite the inherent difficulties, the artistic life proved a worthy goal and provides me immense joy and fulfillment. I paint almost every day. My humble wish is for my art to make a lasting impact on others long after I have moved beyond this mortal plain.
Contact Us
Have any queries or want to know more about Eric's art, drop a message!
ca92371@gmail.com