Apotheoun (Tom Livezey at Eleven)

[Garth Herrick]

The American expressionist, Stuart Shils, whom I greatly respect, delivered a gallery talk on Thursday the 8th, and must have spent fifteen minutes devoted to focusing upon this painting. He was drawn to the relationships of the figurative elements as they were designed in the space, and was especially intrigued by the blue sneaker coming in at the top right, a necessary element, as he put it, and he then emphasized the interesting role the shadows produced by this shoe and the legs added to the composition and infered narrative. He talked about the qualities of the edges thoughout the painting, the alliteration of arch design motifs repeating, the design of the feet pointing up into the head, and the interest of some negative spaces. As he delved into the underlying psychology of this painting, I had to smile, because he went much deeper in his interpretation as the viewer experiencing this painting, than I ever thought about as the creating artist! It is always interesting to hear what take another has on one's own work. It can be an insightful education. At any rate, one of his main points was to illustrate with this painting how photography has opened up very innovative new ways of seeing the world from pre-existing western compositional conventions; and that this particular composition with its particular croppings of the figurative elements with the mother's legs coming in front of the boy, would never have occured to an artist until recent times. I am paraphrasing Mr. Shils here, as he actually said quite a lot. I enjoyed his in depth talk. As he finished up his last sentence, he began a hurried run out the door to catch an express train to New York.

Garth

[Garth Herrick]

Here is a recent review of this show at Woodmere, I just chanced upon on Google News:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...id=40301&rfi=6

The author singled out my painting, Apotheoun, along with two top prize winners for a mention, which is surprising because I did not get any of the prizes.

This is the first time I even tried Google News. It is a nice resource! All one needs to do is type in a target key-word in the search engine. In this case, either my name or Apotheoun will yield the same result of this news article. I think I will try some other Forum member's names too, to see what comes up!

Garth

[Alexandra Tyng]

Wow, go for it, Garth! Congrats for getting mentioned in the review, especially since they only touched on a few others. I wouldn't call this piece "photorealistic," however. It has quite a different quality (to my eyes). When you painted it, did you consider (or did you ever consider) your style photorealistic?

[Michele Rushworth]

Google news really is a great resource. I use it to set up news alerts if I'm painting any clients who are public figures. Google news will send me an email any time their name appears in the press. It helps me understand what's happening in their lives and to serve as a conversation point when we meet next.

You can also set your own name up for Google news alerts. Then you get an email any time someone mentions your name or work in the press. Always helpful to know about, and you can print out any articles that might be useful to put in your portfolio.

[Garth Herrick]

Hi Alex and Michele,

Thanks Alex; I suppose I have never denied the close affinity to photography in this work. I only hope it holds up in this context, as I want it to feel as more than just a rote copy of a cropped reference. I am glad you see more worth in this example. I can understand too how the writer associates this with snapshot vacation photography, as well. I am taking it as a positive response to the imagery as it evokes and resonates with this writer.

Michele, you are certainly qualifying as the most business savvy among this Forum! I always learn from you. So now I will set Google News for tthe Email Alerts option setting. More power to you, and Thanks!

Garth

[Tom Edgerton]

Garth--

As you know, it's one of my favorites.

One thing that critics tag as "photorealistic" is a certain fidelity to realistic drawing, but that term misses the mark for me here. I've always seen "photorealism" as having a certain randomness or "found" quality to the imagery, plus a fairly non-discerning approach to edges and detail. This painting has been refined through a couple of permutations to a completely non-random level of design--there is an abstract, pared-down underpinning to it that's anything but "found." And the nuance of edges really asserts when one sees the original painting. And the color captures that hot summer sun in a way that photographic color wouldn't, to my mind. Just my opinion.

It may have started with photography, but it's been refined way beyond that by now.

Congrats on the recognition!

[Garth Herrick]

(Belated) Thanks, Tom!

Two related bits of publicity for Apotheoun:

The Artist's Magazine 24th Annual Art Competion , has awarded Apotheoun, and two of my other portraits here on the Forum, as Finalists, in the Portrait and Figure category.

Also, the Artist's Magazine 2008 Limited-Edition Calendar, has Apotheoun published, representing the month of August.
Incidentally, John Ennis has a painting represented for April (congratulations, John!).


The other two Finalist portraits of mine in the Portrait and Figure category are Jane and Iona , and Arianna and Taylor .

Also for the Portrait and Figure category of Finalists, kudos on this Forum go to:

Marina Dieul Montreal QC
Kimberly Dow Corpus Christi TX
John Ennis Yardley PA
J. Kirk Richards Provo UT
Alexandra Tyng Narberth PA

The complete list in is here:
http://www.artistsmagazine.com/article.asp?id=3038

Also kudos to Thomasin Dewhurst, Finalist in the Experimental category.

Currently, Apotheoun and Arianna and Taylor are also on display at the Wayne Art Center, in Wayne, PA, as a part of the current group exhibition, "Portraiture: A Philadelphia Tradition" ; Through November 16, 2007.

Garth

[Garth Herrick]

That is quite a lot of views here; sure, it took over five and a half years though. . . . Thanks everyone!!

All the best, and happy painting and posting,

Garth