Eyvind Earle a Fraternity of One

The extraordinary Eyvind Earle lived “The Artist’s Life” to its truest perfection and fulfillment. He was born to two creative nurturing parents. His mother a classical pianist and his father a painter that studied with some of the most respected artists of his time (most notably the champion Bouguereau.) It is not to say that Earle did not have set backs. As a child polio caused a life-long deformation of his mouth making it difficult for him to smile. But in spite of his affliction he became perhaps more focused and remained true to his calling in a most ambitious and dedicated way. In turn he would bring countless unconditional smiles to the many within the span of his creative journey through life.

He studied continually as he practiced his craft while traveling across country on his bicycle looking for subjects and inspiration. Earle also had the desire to make money from his work and was able to do so first with greeting cards and later to a far greater extent as a background painter for several Hollywood studios including United Artists and Disney. He was featured as the sole credited background artist for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (something no other artist of yet has achieved.) The Sleeping Beauty paintings distinctive look of detailed verticality was influenced largely from medieval paintings and tapestries. He also contributed to “Lady and the Tramp,” “The Legend of Paul Bunyan,” and others. Earle would go on to opening his own production company where he garnished a number of commercial clients; Chrysler, Kellogg, Marlboro and he even created one of Universal Studios most intriguing animated logos. 

Eyvind Earle was always able to attract attention as a commercial artist. He returned to greeting cards several times over both on his on and for hire. There are collections devoted exclusively to his greeting cards. It would be within the refinement of fine art that Earle would find his greatest achievements. He would eventually come to work exclusively as a fine artist. He had realized early on that he had the ability to sell his marvelous paintings. This he used to great advantage. As his clientele’s scope grew and the polished works of his imagination became that of a world class nature; he prospered. Earle became a man and artist of tremendous success. He was particularly admired in Japan and the Asian influence along with a personal aesthetic and sensibility were actually very Japanese. It is much evident in his late work. Earle and Hiroshige surrogate brothers in craft and spirit. 

The works of Eyvind Earl are among a select group of artists that lead the viewer to a deeper, richer view of the world, life and the self. There is clarity within his art that transcends the physical. When viewing and experiencing Earle’s work there is a true feeling of the elevation of the spirit, of the heart. There is the union of both vision and mind coming together in a way truly unique, a Zen most sublime.  

                                                         

                                             

The "Zootopian Art" of Walton Ford

King Kong: Skull Island, Disney’s The Jungle book and Zootopia are all recent movie releases that I’m certain Walton Ford loves. Ford the accomplished contemporary artist; has a MFA in filmmaking and creates works as a fine artist that feature and reflect the creatures of nature and the natural world as his primary subjects. There is no possibility that he could not have loved these fore-mentioned films each possessing an uncanny resemblance and affinity of a definitive purpose and respect of commonality. Ford’s art could have been the basis of each films pre-production design and story-boards. Ford’s extraordinary depth and rang is unpatralled in his times for their achievement in the advancement of a form that has been largely ignored for decades. His lush, detailed, richly colored, exuberant pieces adorn many museums around the country and homes of the uber-rich.  

At first look Ford is a naturalist artist in the grand tradition of the likes of John J Audubon. He has painstakingly studied; primarily at the Rhode Island School of Design, New York’s Museum of Natural History and most importantly from “Mother Nature” herself. He parts from the traditionalist in his treatments of his subjects and places them often in very unnatural situations. He adorns his pieces with unusual texts; sometimes written in Latin that many times over are comedic, ironic and timely. 

The scale of Walton Ford’s art is also worthy of note. I have been fortunate enough to have seen his water-color representation of an Aurochs Bull on several occasions at Washington, DC’s American Art Museum. The dimensions of the work are 95” x 132.” It is divided into three sections and having first seen the work scaled down in the pages of “Art in America” magazine it remains a shockingly interesting as well as astonishingly beautiful experience to see this much larger than life master piece!

Ford remains ever and increasingly engaged in his work. He has recently done portraits of Kong, a commissioned Rolling Stones’ album cover and now depicts human beings in his paintings (usually as background embellishments.) Walton Ford thrives in his own “Zootopian World” as we benefit from his skill, devotion and Herculean extravagance of forms.  

 

Salvador Dali PREMONITION OF CIVIL WAR

It was painted as a response to the looming Spanish Civil War by the Master Surrealist; Salvador Dali. It rivals and is a foil to another artist’s statement on the same destructive force; Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. Dali’s miracle; “Soft Construction with Boiled Beans Premonition of Civil War” Is amazingly on point. Dali’s depiction of an entity/creature painfully and horrifically in the process of destroying itself is both alarming and seductive.

Dali’s creation is also in many ways cause for celebration. His colors are rich; his technique, his drafting skills are brilliant and the genius of his imagination is phenomenal. Rarely has any artist taken such an ugly truth as civil war and transformed that truth into something beautiful; something to study and treasure. Premonition of Civil War is a true masterpiece of priceless magnitude and monumental in stature.

In light of the recent election of Donald J. Trump this nation finds itself at tremendous odds. Protests that have taking place; largely in cities across the nation, demonstrate a bitterness and unparalleled divisiveness on many levels. Individuals are being attacked and bullied in schools while others walk out of their own schools in response and protest. This is a time of civil disobedience that I haven’t personally seen since the Nineteen Sixties. Actor Robert Di Nero said Trump’s election felt emotionally something like those he felt on "Nine Eleven," 2001. Decidedly one of the worst days in American History. I have to agree with Mr. Di Nero. Something of my own feelings of that time hauntingly returned to me.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. 

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                           Abraham Lincoln

                          

Donald Trump’s presidency will not destroy the union. It in all likely hoods will not lead to civil war. But he will be passionately opposed when wrong and equally acknowledged when right. The nation will vote again in four years, we will choose quite possibly Mr. Trump’s replacement. It is too our good fortune and credit that we have such a system of government. At present Donald Trump chooses and prepares his administration, the protests continue, we continue to look to great art for comfort and inspiration…life and creativity go on. We are very much a nation of one with many different minds and visions. We are a nation of people and ideas of which the best of each will ultimately endure. 

Vija Celmins The Drawings & Paintings Of...

Vija Celmins is an artist whose works ask and surely compel the viewer to slow down, breath in and absorb her brilliance and subtlety of technique and style. The photographic feel and look she masters beg to be studied unlike any other artist working today. She is not loud, bold or extravagant but the genuine powers of her pieces are transformative. Look at these works of her hand’s precision, intricacy and exacting measure. She delivers her grace of being for our understanding and joy.

“There aren't really rules for painting, but there’s certain facts and fictions about painting. Part of what I do is document another surface and sort of translate it. They’re like translations, and then part of it is fiction, which is invention.”

                                                                                                            Vija Celmins

The Latvian born Celmins (now living in the United States) has authored several books including The Painting of Modern Life and The Stars; a book about her long term obsession with viewing the cosmos. She likes to think of her paintings as things that she builds rather than paints. Celmins starts with the construction and preparation of her canvas and sees every step as integral to the finished piece. She also paints as many as nine layers of paint; as many as deemed necessary to achieve her desired result.

“Somehow the image begins to have a sort of memory in it, even if you can't see it. It can build up a dense feeling toward the end, and then it makes me happier.”

                                                                                                           Vija Celmins

The spider webs, stars and space configurations, still life’s and ocean surfaces are most often mono-chromes likened to black and white photos.  Vija uses photographs extensively as reference and she also paints familiar objects from her studio and home.  She uses color sparingly as if to not distract the viewer from a mental connection of purpose. Her works displayed in museums, sought by collectors and viewed by the millions are quiet treasures to behold.  

Richard Schmidt "Winter"

I love the spirit; the craft and care, the intelligence, the beauty within the art of Richard Schmidt. Schmidt has long been a creator of landscapes, architectural renderings, portraits, nature studies and on and on. There is little that Schmidt hasn’t covered and mastered. This artist/educator, painter and author is among the best in the current market and art scene. His works are academic with a very free y style.  His works are not challenging but they are a joy to behold and savor as a painterly delicacy. Many of Schmidt’s works are seasonal and are of a special interest at this time of year.

The paintings of Richard Schmidt are tonally much in line with another popular American artists; Andrew Wyeth. Wyeth frequently painted images of late fall and winter themes. Schmidt is drawn to the same. A portfolio of Schmidt’s best are here for viewing and presented as a holiday sharing. Like many great painters the works speak most eloquently for themselves and explanations can cause some distraction and are hardly necessary. Please enjoy and feel the warmth of heart that inhabits these winter works. 

There are many that propose that art has to be unsettling, disturbing, as it shatters every preconceived notion. That is wonderful in concept but it is not a prerequisite. In my mind there are no absolutes in the creation or appreciation of art. That is the true greatness found in the pursuit of truth, beauty or the absurd. Art can be for the shock of newness but it can also be moving in the familiar and possess a Zen oneness with the sublime. Schmidt is of the later; a celebration of life and sight.

"In the Spirit of Christmas"