Risk management

Mike McCarty · 06-22-2005, 05:53 PM

I love D. G.'s paintings.

This painting is just the berries. Of course the playful nature of it is anchored by a rock solid portrait of a man in a suit. And the date - 1973.

I wonder who among us has taken this kind of risk lately? I would dare to say that if someone said to me that I had complete carte blanche (or Amex) I could not come up with this many berries.

Enzie Shahmiri · 06-23-2005, 05:02 PM

Nope, I can't count myself as a risk taker, but I like this work. It is whimsical, yet sensitive and strong.

Marcus Lim · 06-24-2005, 06:21 AM

That's an interesting concept for a portrait. So what is the full name of the initials D.G.? Please tell me more about this artist

Mike McCarty · 06-24-2005, 09:58 AM

I'm sorry Marcus I should have spelled it out, his name is Daniel Greene and his web site (recently created by C. D. whoops I did it again, I mean Cynthia Daniel) is located here . If you look on the right side running vertical you can see how he signed and dated the painting.

I'm sure I join the millions of Mr. Greene's admirers. There are other examples of risk taking on his web site, though this one is a peach all alone on it's tree. Of course it should be noted that when you reach the stature of a Daniel Greene whatever you do will tend to define the genre. But, (as if he needed me to defend him) this painting was created 32 years ago. I would be interested to know what Mr. Greene's standing in the field was in the early seventies. Unlike today, the opportunity for exposure back then would probably been limited to a somewhat localized crowd.

And now that I've given him my complete endorsement his stature should rise meteorically.

I've said it before -- for those of us that have not been able to take advantage of the workshops and other types of education that exist out there, Daniel Green's web site is a full course load of information.

Claudemir Bonfim · 06-24-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

I'm sure I join the millions of Mr. Greene's admirers.

I've said it before -- for those of us that have not been able to take advantage of the workshops and other types of education that exist out there, Daniel Green's web site is a full course load of information.

Definitely true Mike, I always visit this beautiful website made by Cynthia.

Henry Wienhold · 07-02-2005, 12:42 AM

I'm an admirer of Daniel Greene, I've seen some of his subway paintings, fascinating and just beautifully done. He really is a risk taker and not just with his paintings. In a sense he may place his own physical body in danger visiting and spending time in the subways of NYC.

Whenever I have visited NYC in the past I was too chicken to venture down into the subway system, I took a cab everywhere. I'm not a New Yorker, maybe some of the danger linked with the subway in Manhattan is just fabricated and not as dangerous as tourists may think, or maybe not.

Mike McCarty · 07-02-2005, 08:23 AM

Above I wrote:

Quote:

I would be interested to know what Mr. Greene's standing in the field was in the early seventies.

I found the following on the D. G. web site:

Quote:

Daniel E. Greene, N.A. is a former instructor of painting at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League of New York. He is the author of "Pastel" that was in print for 25 years and "The Art of Pastel," which were published in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. In 1969, Mr. Greene was elected to the National Academy of Design.

The Encyclopedia Britannica considers Mr. Greene the foremost pastelist in the United States and in 1983, the Pastel Society of America elected him to the Pastel Hall of Fame.

Henry,

I lived in Manhattan for six weeks when I worked at Merrill Lynch. I took the subway from mid-town to Wall St. and back every day. It was so crowded I don't think there was physically enough room to committ a decent crime. I'm sure I would not have been bold enough to sub it in the wee hours through the Bronx.

Here's two more compositions. One quite different, the other no risk at all ... is just gooood.

Henry Wienhold · 07-05-2005, 11:50 PM

Mike the ederly gentleman in the chair looks like he's contemplating the unknown. He sits in front of the door like he's wondering what's on the otherside. Maybe this painting is representative of an elderly person thinking about an afterlife. You see that exit sign in the left hand corner, interesting. There is something about this painting that reminds me of Norman Rockwell. Possibly it's that wall and the general informal atmosphere. I admire the way Rockwell painted portraits also, but thats another story.

Both of these paintings are brilliant, I like the drama and the color composition of the young woman.

Mike McCarty · 07-06-2005, 09:48 AM

I like your analysis Henry.

These paintings are so different. The first of the seated man facing away, apart from all the symbolism, is done almost in a documentary fashion. Rockwell like as you say.

In very contrasting fashion, the second to me is a study in the art of lost edges. If you circle the painting you can count a fist full of edges that come and go.

To me painting if first about design. Even in the [seemingly] haphazard, free for all nature of the first painting above, there is reason and deliberation to all it's elements.

Mr. Greene's web site is a full year university course to for this student.