Empathicism - Painting Outside the Lines

By Ross Allen

"Abraham's Anguish" - A man succumbed by anguish.

Looking at paintings by the masters of old, you can't help but see how their style and impact has echoed through the ages.  The strokes, subjects and execution shown in their bodies of work created inspirational principles that artists have carried and passed for hundreds of years.

From various times, movements and styles, painters have been immortalized through their transference of the passion they feel in their lives; The pain and anguish of Van Gogh's psychosis bleeds onto the canvas, forming bright and heavy color swirls of movement and life, giving the viewer the power and passion (and perhaps even joy) required to appreciate his "Wheat Field with Crows."   With "Empathicism," creator LORD TOPH imbues traces of his predecessors through visceral depictions of emotion that lays claim to a new style, by paying attention to the styles before it.

Style is usually depicted with a tangibly evident formula.  Much like a martial art, there is movement, formation, philosophy, execution, and even an expected range of outcome.  Empathicism began with the combination of various styles (expressionism, impressionism, abstraction, to name a few), culminating in each style supporting the framework in the philosophy of its visual empathy; to convey specific emotions to the viewer, every time.  As we all feel the same emotions, the same emotion can affect each person differently.  Empathicism allows for the potency of other styles to reflect visual emotion, as multiple feelings can be experienced from one depicted emotion, as well as its inherited styles.

Take for instance LORD TOPH's painting, "Abraham's Anguish," the first painting of the "Expressions of Empathy" series, and the first painting of Empathicism.  This painting portrays a man named Abraham (no direct connection to the biblical Abraham) who is personified by his own tormenting anguish.  Monochromatic colors of blue, purple and green swirl and surround Abraham, whose face encompasses almost the entire painting.  Before I get any more descriptive into the underlying context and the all out formula of the painting (and I can) it is most important for me to accredit this work to another poignant piece in artistic foundation; Edvard Munch's "The Scream."

Edvard Munch's creation of "The Scream" came from his evening walk on a bridge overlooking Oslofjord, Norway.  According to Munch himself, he was walking with his friends, when he stopped to witness what he heard was "Nature's Scream.". The now painting shows the blood red sunset covering the skyline, depicting the bloodshed of nature and the ominous figure (perhaps a personification of Munch himself or Nature) in complete and utter fear and agony - a tell-tale sign of Empathicism indeed.

LORD TOPH's "Abraham's Anguish" was not directly influenced by "The Scream." Yet, like Munch, LORD TOPH concentrates on various styles, influences and emotion to convey a specific emotion that encompasses both the painting and the viewer.  Both paintings carry an abstraction in execution to exemplify the potency of emotion.  Both paintings show the subject in distress and anguish, giving a human perspective that directly connects us with the paining.  Both paintings also use a color application that psychologically articulates the mood and tone of their worlds.  So why would "Abraham's Anguish" not simply be a form of Expressionist painting, such as Munch's "The Scream?"

Keep in mind, Munch didn't initially create "The Scream" as a precursor or even a starting point for Expressionism.  He was a powerful enough painter and individual to portray life devoid of the lines and boundaries that we use to describe it.  Through the power of emotion, color, and human relation, a foundation for artistic connection was born, separated from reality.  LORD TOPH's founding of Empathicism creates artistic freedom specified by emotion and communicative direction.  If you see aspects of Expressionism, impressionism, Kandinsky, Klimt, or even Munch, any and all aspects serve to tell the underlying story of emotion.  It may be the "Style of no Style" philosophy, of simply LORD TOPH's unconscious deliberation of the masters before him.

And if so, I don't think they would mind - what would be the point of their legacy, if they did?

The Theory Behind Empathicism

A Brief Summary on the Theory Behind “Empathicism" Empathicism - A new style that due to time, and exposure, can bloom into a new movement in the world of art. Founded by LORD TOPH, "Empathicism" presents itself as empathy interpreted through the painting's subject matter, color, size, title and even stroke application. This will obviously raise questions in the art world as to whether or not a style can derive from something that is based on our emotional conscience. The Empathicist Technique: Thematic as opposed to schematic. The aim is to inspire an emotional experience, as opposed to thought. Feeling is the catalyst, as opposed to thought in expressionism. So, the whole technique is developed from the mind's eye, often times without the use of a sketch or prior study. The principle behind Empathicism, is to trigger a universal emotion in the viewer that arises almost unconsciously, thus confirming the painting as having a defining execution. For example, if a picture is saying a thousand words, then Empathicism would be saying a thousand specific words. Of course, any work of art is, and should be open for interpretation, as should emotion. With Empathicism, every stroke, and every aspect of the work contributes to empathy. In Expressionism, you are conveying a style, by painting from feeling. Whereas, in Empathicism, you are painting from feeling to convey an emotion. Often times, this is expressed or exclaimed far more clearly in a work’s title. In Empathicism, a painting's title is illustrated by what is occurring in the piece. The titles are chosen from relatable emotional experiences or topics.

The Aim of Empathicism

A fine art style can easily establish a point of view well enovgh to steer a conversation, or set a complete atmosphere in a room. Yet often times, translation of svbject or theme is lost long before it can svccessfvlly garner an emotional connection from, and with the viewer. Many artists have fallen short of their initial goal of expressing inspiration by being confined within the laws of techniqve. The aim of Empathicism is to serve as a condvit of emotional energy being conveyed from artist, to canvas, to the viewer.

Life Imitates Art – The creation of "Empathicism" Through the Viewer

By Ross Allen

Style (n.) \stī(-ə)l\

a : a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech)
b : a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself ; also : a particular mode of living c : a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed

Webster’s Dictionary – http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/style

Art always begins as a passion and becomes an idea (or vice versa); the concept must then be systematically translated (through physical exertion) visually in order for it to be communicable to the outside world. The paradox lies in this innate, singular display of expression that holds infinite possibilities for humankind to communicate with each other. The artist LORD TOPH and his new style, “Empathicism” creates a realm of art that reaches out to us and directly communicates with our emotions.
In Empathicism, passion erects as a specific emotion manifesting the art; the subject, color, and even size is not bound to any guidelines or barriers. It is thoroughly defined by the chosen emotion for the piece. It is clear that such properties as size and color have a specific psychological effect on the human mind; red possessing the positive essence of strength or stimulation; blue possessing intelligence and even serenity. There are too many psychological facets of various colors, both positive and negative to mention. Thankfully, color (or the absence of) is one of many facets to play a large part in emotional connection being conveyed in Empathicism.



The Innocence of a Child
4’ x 4’
Oil on canvas board

Positive and negative space is balanced by symmetrical scale and vibrant colors. The essence of the painting is drawn out by the primary colors of red (warmth, energy), blue (calming and trusting), and yellow (friendliness and optimism).
Secondary colors such as greens, oranges, and deep violets, accomodate the primaries showing balance, security, and even truth. The child’s absence of color (with the exception of her hair, eyes and lips), represents purity and innocence.
The child’s face is completely round, portraying balance, and perhaps the preservation of the soul. The expression of the child cannot be determined as positive or negative. Children are initially innocent and malleable for their future experiences with those they encounter, in their life ahead.
LORD TOPH captures the essence of the painting through scale (balance & symmetry), choice of color (life & vitality), absence of color (innocence & purity), stroke (bold & passionate)and subject (impression & truth).This conscious entitlement, defines the piece altogether: "The Innocence of a Child."
All of these things we see in this painting, are the intricacies that we unconsciously connect with every day. Empathicism is explained in writing, to give further insight into what is certain to become a poignant and very captivating style, in the world of fine art.
LORD TOPH has married the emotional and visual that allows art, like humanity,
to speak for itself.


visit LORD TOPH at artreview.com and lordtophart.com
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Defining the Style of Empathicism

(Left: LORD TOPH's "I Was Just Wondering". The first completed painting of LORD TOPH's second series of Empathicism, following Expressions Of Empathy Vol. 1)

Every era throughout civilization has been defined by different factors which have attributed to the growth of society. The diversity of architecture, culture, economy, religion, and socialism, is shaped by the expansion of innovative concepts and ideals. This progression is most often influenced by the evolution of art. Through the ages, art has been the voice of originality and aesthetic appeal. In the world of fine art, theory becomes defined through imagery that translates the technique, which in turn, introduces the style. "Empathicism" is a new fine art style defined by Lord Toph. The aim of the empathicistic style, is to translate the connection from the artist, to the work, to the viewer. Unlike most classical styles, Empathicism begins prior to the artist's illustration of the subject. The style itself, is being defined merely by the application of medium to canvas, as well as the artist's execution. These factors aid in divulging the title and/or subject matter of the work. Emotional execution, and feeling transferred to stroke, is the catalyst for depicting an empathicistic theme. Virtually any subject can be significant in translating the style and technique of Empathicism, yet the aspect of how the choice of subject matter is delivered becomes essential in representing the style. Empathicism is best defined through metaphoric imagery. This imagery stimulates the viewer to feel beyond seeing the work in an analogical point of view. The main objective of Empathicism, is to evoke emotion beyond an impression, and to clearly challenge the expression of one's inner-self.