The Guardian
 

Here is a painting of mine that is not new, but I am sharing it, because I am tickled that I sold it today to a friend and collector.

The painting represents two individuals I met on the Kentucky-Tennessee border some years back. In fact, this lady was not quite sure which state she resided in! Anyway she was the primary caregiver for her grandson, asleep on the floor. I could not resist taking a slide photo (actually, two; it's photo reference is recorded in stereo-3D)!

The Guardian
oil on birch panel
48" x 34"
1997

There is a frame too; I made and water-gilt myself; but for web purposes I think it is easier to view without that frame. A birch plywood panel is one of my favorite surfaces to paint on! The features are simplified as much to their essence as I could muster.

I would like to paint some more like this. Let me know how you like it. Obviously this was not a commission, but a personal work.

Garth

very fine work Garth.

I love your approach, it's very refreshing! (even if it is an older painting of yours)


Keep painting on birch, the effect is wonderful ;)

Haunting, tender and beautiful.

One of the biggest snags in doing personal work is that old chestnut: money, no time; time, no money.

I hope you will do more of your own work after a few Union leaque presidents, judges etc. It is captivating.

Garth! Do you have any more of these treasures stacked around your studio?

If you are doing nothing to get them into the public eye, and people (collector friends) are finding their way into your studio and buying work, then it's a no-brainer that you should be doing more and showing them at one of the top galleries.

Wow, this is a beauty! I love the emotion in the woman's face--it connects right to the boy in a straight, strong beam. It's amazing how little you've really articulated in her face, yet when you stand back the emotion is there. She is definitely the guardian angel. There are so many other interesting things, like the history in her legs--they are a vestige of her attractive young self, sillhouetted against the light. I also like the way the rug makes a strong pointed diagonal in the foreground, and the boy fits his body into the perimeter of the rug, as if this is his space, like a room without walls. I could go on and on, there is so much to look at and appreciate, though it is all subordinated into the main theme, the connection between woman and boy.

Go for it, Garth!

Garth,
I would enjoy watching any search of borders from you.
Looking at this painting, that I remember seeing in the company with another pearl, a boy outside your door in the sunshine, also on birch, I came to think that you seem to have been pursuing a personal style for a long period. Almost all of the paintings that you have presented on this forum have the same soft ochres and the same subtle edges. I assume that you have developed your style long ago. Anyway, I am curious if you could elaborate a bit on how you chose your particular expression?
And an easy question: do you prime the birch?

Garth, thank you for showing a little bit of your real self.
This is your own private practice, and I presume that this is also your way to let off steam from the portrait work. It's really a strong work, it has narrative, atmosphere, and, as Allan said, has Garth written all over it.
Most of all, I find it honest, no trying to please, showing your skills with a certain modesty, subortinating them to your interest in the scene.

I know that inspiration for these sort of works is not constant, and maybe they don't happen very often, but, see, everyone here seems to agree on the fact that you should keep walking this way.

Ilaria

Wonderful work, great color and very haunting theme. I love it.

Garth, I had to log in to just say: "Wau this is beautiful!" Everytime I think I have seen it all you surprise us with something new!

Besides all the aspects already mentioned that make this work beautiful, I have to add that I like the fact that you did not clean up the room. There is stuff on that beautifully rendered tile adding to a sense of private space occupied by these individuals. Isn't that linoleum, that you managed to make look so good?!