Friday, November 10, 2023

Don Ryan


An interesting exhibit that juxtaposes a portrait photo with a portrait painting.

The photo was taken when the subject was in the armed services decades ago,
the painting was done recently.

The above is my favorite - maybe because it reminds me of another WWII vet, my father.
Or maybe because the person presented seems so capable as well as thoughtful and empathetic.*




The artist himself






 This project reminds me of Mat Mitchell's. "One Hundred Faces of War" that came to the National Veterans Art Museum in 2015.  His work can be seen here  

Only a few of Mitchell’s portraits are posthumous tributes - but all of them feel that way.  

The Ryan portraits feel more gritty and down to earth.



Wednesday, November 08, 2023

Pamela V. Gibson

 




Nailing a typical Misha gesture !

- but all of these paintings deserve a better aesthetic



Trying to figure what was intended by this conflation of tail of a raptor with head of Val, our former President.