Oh Ensor.. I don't like his style *blush* but thanks for suggesting. I'm more into the ideas of the Expressionist movement but the work itself produced in this period, I like some pieces but not all..It's more about the way the artists expressed themselves that I'm into, the way the lines are made, the choice of colour. Die Brücke's Erich Heckel, Emil Nolde, Kirchner. Kokoschka. There's also Edvard Munch, who is labeled as symbolist too.
Expressionism was opposed to academic standards that had prevailed in Europe and emphasized artist's subjective emotion, which overrides fidelity to the actual appearance of things. The subjects of expressionist works were frequently distorted, or otherwise altered. Landmarks of this movement were violent colors and exaggerated lines that helped contain intense emotional expression. Application of formal elements is vivid, jarring, violent, or dynamic. Expressionist were trying to pinpoint the expression of inner experience rather than solely realistic portrayal, seeking to depict not objective reality but the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in them.
So... this doesn't have to be tied down in one point in time. When I answered your question I was thinking about the approach I take with the work I produce myself, but for art by others I can develop a liking to any movement or style, it's just about the focus of the work that I'm drawn to.
When making art, I've always felt a bit lost with painting and drawing, thinking of what should I draw.. Does anyone feel the same? So, interesting that you bring this topic up now, because I'm currently getting reacquainted with this part of myself, and looking to also create my own 'language' of inventive creatures and environments like Odilon Redon

At the moment I look toward my nightly dreams, and forming a kind of dream journal --I remember reading the psychologist Carl Jung also did this, to get in touch with his psyche, things he might have repressed.. It's called the Red Book (
link here). The funny thing is that after a couple of weeks, I notice how 'realistic' my dreams are XD... They are not strange at all. They happen in a world that looks like the one I'm in when I'm awake. Ugh!
At the moment I'm actually in recluse mode lol, but maybe I can buy a book off of Alibris or something for more research XD Also if anyone has any ideas of developing personal imagery, I would be interested to know. Right now I'm searching through art therapy books because they also use symbolism when working with patients