"Guarding rococo" is a painting I just finished. By placing a painting by Vigee LeBrun behind a formidable nude figure, I not only reference the strength of today's women that seems in contrast to the delicacy, frailness, and decorative concerns of the past, but suggest these seemingly inherent feminine qualities are worth protecting.

ReConfiguring a Copy-Autumn Page Two

Reconfiguring a copy Page 2

July 16, 2011

The first day I sketched out the two major compositional elements. These are circled on the original below. As I’ve stated earlier, I use thinned oil paint for sketching. A close up of the first session developing the copy reveals my sketching method and how I reconfigure the major elements of the work.

                                                 Original                                                           

         

                                                     Copy 6/13/11

At this time I realize the painting is progressing faster than I can post a running dialog. I have started a “History of a Copy” on my web site where I will show visual progress of the work and add comments as I can. This will free this blog for other things.

Copyist World-A Rediscovery

"Copyist World" (unfinished), Oil on canvas, 36" x 24"

"Pasta"1971 Oil on canvas, 59"x78"

I guess I have always been a surrealist at heart. Recently I have discovered that I have a source of ideas that have been festering in my brain for a number of years. From the earlier collage paintings that I started while in Graduate School, I have often incorporated Renascence or Baroque art into my work. My work 'Pasta' was a classic example of this.

"Chapel of the Holy Spirit" Oil on hardboard, 24"x 18"

In my series at the Franciscan Monastery Series I populated the interior of the church with figures drawn from sculpture of religious figures from the walls to populate the floor of the church. In the "Chapel of the Holy Spirit" I brought Christ and his Disciples to the alter of the Church and St. Francis and his flock to the floor of the church.

I titled my latest surrealistic painting "Copyist World" because it is a place, The National Gallery of Art, where I have been copying Master works by Renaissance artists for over 22 years.
I am hoping that this is the first of a series. At least I am excited.