Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Happy Halloween

I've been warned by all the neighbors that the influx of trick or treaters here in the Medfield area will be enormous. After walking the dog this morning, I went to the store to buy more candy on top of what we have in stash currently. I also got in the spirit yesterday by carving out a pumpkin - although I'm not too happy with the final outcome. Practice is needed. :)

Here's a piece titled Ryder's House (1933) by Edward Hopper. I came across this in the DC National Portrait Gallery. Hopper is one of my favorites, and seeing this in the museum was a treat to eyes. The flat and planar shapes create a simplicity that enhance the color such as the earth toned oranges of the chimney and base of the house. But the way he applied the paint in thick, confident strokes can only be felt and seen by actually going to the museum. Hoppers subject matter and the themes I'm currently exploring are similiar.



Thursday, October 19, 2006

Portraits and other stuff

I'm currently taking a "painting in a series" class at MICA (Maryland Institute and College of Art. It's nice to be back in a classroom setting where you can engage and share your work with other artists on a weekly basis. This Tuesday is a big critique and I'll be able to show 2 new paintings.

If you are feeling digitally creative on your computer check out ARTPad on Art.com


Last weekend Helen and I had a chance to check out the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. My main focus was to see the contest winners from 2006 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. I would have to say the competition's body of work was outstanding, but it was apparent the juror(s) focused on photorealism paintings completed in the medium of oil on linen. For the most part I agreed with the winners including David Lenz "Sam and the Perfect World" which featured his son, an open field, an attention captivating eclispe in the upper left of the piece. Another memborable piece was a nude portrait by an artist of his parents together called Mom and Dad. The medium of choice was a Lite Brite display. Remember Lite Brite as a child?

Finally here is a study of a painting I'm really excited about. the feeling and confidence of being potentially a great painting is there, but I'm almost afraid to start the canvas out of fear of screwing it up. The professor in my class positively commented about this study.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

To know or not to know the artist?

I'm a historical nut for WW2. This period of time in the world from the western perspective effected a lot of lives in terms of strife, war and hardship. Its the personal stories factoids of weaponry, and battles I find fascinating. It would be hard to argue any modern time period since then having as dramatic as impact.

Anyways, when I was on youtube the other day I was searching for old WW2 footage. I came across a clip that featured Adolf Hitlers paintings in in a digital slideshow. Now I knew Hitler was a painter and artist. I have seen a few rendered drawings of his but nothing as extensive as these pictures in the slide show. So somewhere in the world these pictures are in a collection hidden away. Despite the awful he represents in mankind, his paintings and use of color is subtle, and rendering of subject matter exquisite. This clip of paintings offer another insight to a man whose name evokes raw emotion of hate and fascination. I'd have to say he has an eye for beauty that is depicted within these series. They contain feeling and reflect excellent draftsmanship.


However many replies in response th the clip contradicted my opinion and thought to the sequence of his images. I'm looking at these pieces as simply pictorial, and I am not attaching Hittler's persona or letting his reputation affect my opinion. So how would one view these paintings if you didn't know who created them? Does the work of art and artist have a connection?

Here are a few new color studies of upcoming work: