Wayne Theibaud: Landscapes, Cityscapes, Ice Cream and Fresh Cakes

“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.

The Frankenstein Monster

The Frankenstein monster

The lifeless; the dead

Seemed utterly harmless

with probes in his head

 A little of lightning

a bolt and a shock

 delivered the message

it’s time to wake up

The roar of the thunder

the crack of the shock

 he listened and heard them

just like a knock, knock

There’s  business for you

both scary and Grimm

a village to greet you

get going again.

He hurried; he worried

His efforts in vain

He grunted and growled

His brain was insane

He couldn’t remember the joy of a LIFE

The next thing he wanted you know was a wife

So quickly constructed

with bride and with friend

again starting over

his dreams to begin

but they too were shattered

when Bride say his face

this creature of science

could not find his place

He wished to belong

just one in the crowd

he ranted and raved

he shouted out loud

there’s no witches brew

or splendid, warm places

 His bride left him too

her beauty not wasted

The monster moved on

without kit or kin

he’s walking the Earth

resistant to sin

Avoiding each village

each hamlet and den

just can’t get connected

there’s never a  friend

You may see him soon

he’ll visit your town

Just some “thing” much scary

he rambles around

The ocean, the river, the light of the moon

Remarkable, distant, magnanimous goon

Dave Mckean: The Arcane The Image

To look into the art of Dave Mckean is to look into places of unlimited intrigue, depth and range. The works are window openings into a mysterious and arcane psyche. The portals are many and vast as a journey outward into the stars or equally inward to the micro biotic multi-verses. 





                                            Mckean seduces and captures with the creations of his unbridled talent and imagination. His worlds are mystical, magical potions of the best alchemy. Mirror Mask, The Sandman, Wolves in the Wall, Coraline are among the stories, novels and films of Dave Mckean. They are all collaborations in part with his colleague/friend; the much admired writer Neil Gaiman.

The work can be dark, foreboding and something strange as that of a counter-culture artist. Mckean’s art is not repellant like many other counter-culturists but inviting and dreamlike without being the stuff of nightmares.    

In 1993 DC Comics would introduce their now legendary line of graphic novels; Vertigo. Editor Karen Berger would enlist writer Neil Gaiman for the initial series of books; “Sandman.” The entire line of books including Gaiman’s “Sandman” were targeted for mature readers and are among the most popular and celebrated of the Horror/Fantasy genre. Dave Mckean would join “Sandman” as official cover artist mid-way through it’s run and his work would become the art most associated with “Sandman.” They are also among Mckean’s most recognizable and original creations. “Sandman would be described as:

“A comic strip for Intellectuals.”

Norman Mailer

Another author from the Vertigo Line; Grant Morrison had earlier (1989) penned the then radical hard-cover novel, “Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.” His was a Dark Knight Tale remarkably conceived and illustrated with Mckean’s extraordinary graphics and evocative paintings. It remains a land-mark achievement and is in every sense a classical marriage of prose and image.

As a film maker; Mckean’s seminal work to date is “Mirror Mask.” It is yet another brilliant collaboration with Neil Gaiman and The Jim Henson Company. The plot is a variation of Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.” The look is visually stunning with the definitive style of Mckean’s best product. It is memorable as a cult film with a distinct “indie” flavor. 

The reflective study of the works of Dave Mckean is a perfect start for a breezy October evening and then on; into the night.