Portraits of the Palette 2016

Terry Firkins, "Dad"

An exhibition of portraits is a real workout for the  fusiform face area (FFA) , the area in the brain that performs facial recognition.  It makes for a fascinating show at the Palette and Chisel because there is such a variety of  style.

What is especially fascinating about this iteration is the appearance of  two new members who offer even more variety.


Terry Firkins offers this quotation on his website :

"There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun."

Contrasting naturalism with expressionism, that quote is a good fit for the first decades of the 20th Century - as well as for the Palette and Chisel a hundred years later. 

Firkins makes Mom and Dad come alive on  the canvas. It's quite an achievement.
(and check out his website -- he appears to be an exciting Abstract Expressionist as well)

Terry Firkins, "Mom"

Another title might be "Mother Courage"

Terry Firkins, "Burial of Ring"

It may not be  "The Burial at Ornans" -- but I'm kind of missing poor old Ring now myself.

Stacey Street

Just taking a wild guess here -- but these young men appear to be seeking some  deeper meaning in their lives - and are being honored for it.

They express an inner openness -- a readiness to change.

They're good kids -- just a little lost.

Stuart Fullerton

On the other  hand -- Stuart Fullerton's icy femme fatales belong in a Jane Austin novel where they  can scheme to land the right husband.

Cathy Buck

Errol Jacobson

Stephanie Weidner

The  above three paintings, hanging beside each other, all have an unreal,  shimmering quality.

But Stephanie's portrait also presents an indomitable personality.

I might call this my favorite painting in the show.

George Zaremba

Helen Oh

Helen  told me that she made several drawings of this model - but all of the other attempts failed.

You might call it Classical -- being so much about elegance and design.

Jose  Antonio Bedolla

This restraint, severity, and character seems to have come from Velasquez via Manet.

Misha Livshulz

Misha is a very cheerful guy.  Always fun to be around as he talks about hare brained ideas, Torah,  and the classics of modern literature (now he's reading Moby Dick)

But as this self portrait from 1990  (lower left) reveals -- there's a fierce intensity underneath.

It's also reflected in his recent portrait of his daughter.  She's a university professor -- and you better not turn in your assignments a day late.

Mary Qian

Sometimes I wish that Mary's portraits were more about painting and less about the subject.

But she really does make the subject come alive - not just as himself, but also as he interacts with that intense woman holding the paint brush.

Tor Muehl

Tor Muehl

Recently, Tor began an open print making workshop for members in the basement studio.   These linocuts are among the many examples he has been hanging on  Palette and Chisel walls lately.

But why did he include the above zoological specimen in an exhibition of portraits?

"Does the subject have a name?" one sceptic inquired.

"Bird" answered Tor.

Possibly he is an animal rights activist.

 

 Michael Van Zeyl

Here's the other animal that made it into portrait show -- but only as a piece of haberdashery.

Kimberly Beck

The strong volumes and subdued colors recall early Modernism.

Bobbie Puttrich

 Bodo's portrait of Tor is a bit scary --  but Tor does have his darker moments.

Plein Air 2016

Stephanie Weidner

Here's my pick for this year's plein air competition.  I'm sure some profound psychology is connected to an obsession with doors.  Whatever it may me -- these are beautiful and haunting paintings.

The door is just barely open - but you can feel how cool and refreshing it would be to enter.

And it's fascinating how the artist has forcefully cut the painting in two, and played the right side against the left.

Barbara Herring

I also voted for Barbara Herring.  What a delightful afternoon.  It reminds me of a nautical jaunt my girlfriend and I  took in a local pond about fifty years ago.

Dana M. Johnson

A funky, sentimental setting that recalls urban realism of the 1930's

Errol Jacobson

Yikes -- this feels cold!  I feel bad for the artist if it was painted on site.

Lee Radtke

One of many charming depictions of our home.  This one feels especially urbane.

Mary Longe

A wonderful painting that feels like the set design for an opera - possibly an updated production of La Boheme.

Mary Longe is a remarkable painter.  This is her first appearance on this blog.
By the way, she is also a writer

 

Nancie King Mertz

I cycled down this elevated bike path back when it first opened.  It was a memorable experience - but I don't really care to look at roofs.   I'd rather bike through the city at street level.

Nancie is the club's most Impressionistic Impressionist.  Life passes her by as flicker of light  - then it's on to the next scene -- and the next painting.