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Originally Posted by Mike McCarty
I find that his portrayal of the subjects he paints far less glamorized than most. He instead seems to embrace the obvious humanity of the individual, instead of trying to create a false facade.
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My favorite D.G. painting/pastel works are the ones that cut through surface pleasantries and down to the essence of the individual or what was perceived as their deeper character. But this begets the questions:
Is the artist a merchant providing a service to the patron - which is to be remembered as important , pleasant, and beautiful? Is this need at odds with the artist's private wish of creating a work that may reveal more? To whom should the artist be more loyal, him/herself or the client's humanly wish? Let's not forget many of the well known portrait painters were/are good business managers as well. The best case scenario would be where the client is willing to set their own frailties aside and let the artist do the choosing. I won't be surprised if D.G.'s Mr. Hale was more kindly disposed toward making a remarkable piece of artwork than having himself beautified by D.G.
I better shut up, otherwise I'll never get any real painting done
