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| "Jenny" (c) Robin Wellner, 2016 |
Some of you may be familiar with the wonderful essay on painting entitled "In Praise of the Painterly Painters", written by Charles Movalli. Movalli writes about the difference between two approaches to painting. One approach gives "all the facts", and presents a smooth, highly detailed, finished surface. The other approach loves to see the brush strokes on the surface of the painting. Far from giving all the facts, this approach happily sacrifices detail in favor of spontaneity. It's this second school that we call "painterly" painters.
The top painting is very painterly--by my friend Robin Wellner. Robin might tell us that it is not quite finished--but I love it like it is. Compare Robin's painting to the second portrait of a young woman by Vigee-LeBrun. The second painting is very much in the "Paris salon" school--which favors the smooth, detailed finish. Both portraits are lovely, though quite different.
Movalli notes that the difference between these two approaches involves "the age-old struggle between those who define and those who seek the fleeting impression". Painterly painters seek the fleeting impression. They place far more value on spontaneity than on a detailed "finish". Painterly painters believe that an abbreviated style is best for capturing elusive effects and momentary sensations. Their paintings allow the viewer's eye to complete the work, and give life to it. In other words, the viewer becomes part of the creative process. To me, that is part of their magic.
For fun, I am closing with two more portraits, this time of men. The first, another by Robin Wellner, is very painterly. I love the way the brush strokes show Robin's "handwriting", and how spontaneous the work is. The second, below, is by the great Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Truly beautiful. But one would not call it "spontaneous". Goes to show--there is room in this world for every approach to creating art. Viva la difference!
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| Self Portrait Vigee LeBrun, 1781 |
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| Oil on canvas (c) Robin Wellner, 2016 |
For fun, I am closing with two more portraits, this time of men. The first, another by Robin Wellner, is very painterly. I love the way the brush strokes show Robin's "handwriting", and how spontaneous the work is. The second, below, is by the great Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Truly beautiful. But one would not call it "spontaneous". Goes to show--there is room in this world for every approach to creating art. Viva la difference!
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| Sandro Botticelli, 1483 |
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