Hillel Selznick was born in New York City. He was raised in a Jewish family and was the second-born son of five siblings. Selznick’s parents were both painters, and Selznick was raised in an art environment. He initially studied architecture, but quickly shifted to painting. Selznick was interested in painting since his childhood days. He says, “I think I was about 11 when I realized I was good at it.” After Selznick graduated from high school, he enrolled at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where he studied painting.
Colors in Selznick’s Abstract Artworks
As a painter, Selznick frequently uses black, white, and various shades of grey as his primary colors. The majority of his paintings are matte, or they use a mixture of matte and glazed surfaces. The application of the paint is not restricted to a particular medium as its thickness allowed Selznick to create a range of effects between thick and thin layers. Additionally, he uses a variety of media to create his paintings including acrylic, oil, watercolour, and chalk. Selznick’s abstract artworks possess a distinct quality of monumentality. Further, the artist is interested in the physicality of his materials, which has led him to use a range of textures and materials in his abstract paintings. Some of his abstract artworks include Florida Sunrise, Black and White Chalk, and Grapes. The artist’s interest in the physicality of his materials has led him to use a range of textures in his paintings. This includes oil, watercolor, chalk, and acrylic.
Evolution of Selznick’s Abstract Art
As an artist, Selznick has experimented with various styles of abstraction during his career. Initially, Selznick produced paintings that were more figurative in nature. However, he soon transitioned to a wholly abstract style. Selznick has said that he was influenced by the European abstract art movement and the work of American abstract expressionists. His early paintings were more figurative, with more defined colors and more texture to them. His work during this period was more painterly and figurative. The transition to a solely abstract style was a gradual one, with Selznick believing it took him about a decade to fully embrace abstract painting. This transition was likely influenced by the European abstraction movement and the American abstract expressionists.
Selznick’s Technique
One of the most important aspects of Selznick’s abstract paintings is the way in which he creates his layers. The artist uses a technique of alternating colors to create his abstract artworks. This technique was inspired by the European abstract art movement. Additionally, Selznick employs a range of textures and media to create his abstract paintings.
Final words
Hillel Selznick is known for his bold use of color and for creating extremely large-scale works. The artist’s early paintings were more figurative in nature, but he soon transitioned to a wholly abstract style. Selznick was influenced by the European abstract art movement and the work of American abstract expressionists.
You can learn more about this artist by reading his most recent interview.