“Landscapes, Cityscapes, Ice Cream and Fresh Cakes” could
well be an ad/slogan for the colorful and generous paintings of Wayne Theibaud.
His beautiful works are heavily painted, impasto rich canvases that engage and
delight his viewers. Theibaud is most closely associated with the “Pop” art
movement and artists like Warhol, Lichtenstein, Blake and Hockney.
His natural
talents and training come together in extravagant ways that illuminate our
vision of the world through Theibauds eyes. He has this in common with many of
the other historic and contemporary masters. His cakes and candies simply look delicious. His
hot dogs give off a warmth and aroma while the ice creams refresh and chill all
through the sense of sight.
It is with his landscapes and cityscapes that I think Theibaud
reaches his greatest mastery and are of an even more original statement of
artistry then his more famous “Pop” pieces. Theibaud’s landscapes often exhibit
hills and mountains of an extreme reality. Taken in context of the Northern California
hill sides they are viewed as less extreme and closely resemble the uniqueness
of the mountainous area of his home. When looking at the range of land in the
area of South Western Virginia that I live in I daily see views much like those created within Theibaud’s
works. The hills are so extreme where I live that the cows are possibly the
world’s only cows that are able to graze by raising their heads.
Whenever I’m driving and
seeing fields of any red flowers I think of Monet. Green pastures and the yellow
harvesting of wheat or hay connect me to Van Gogh. While looking out my window
in the dead of winter with the browns, grays and muted hues of that season; I’m
seeing the land of Andrew Wyeth’s Chadds Ford. Now the tallest of lush green hills I see when
and wherever will always be Theibaud Hills in my mind.
Theibaud has famously done and includes character and life
studies within his portfolio. He also teaches and has worked in the field of
animation. Theibaud is a multi-threat/talented artist and man. He has impressed
and influenced many in his time. It is his works that speak most positively for
the man and I will let his works serve as conclusion.
