This is just a quick say, really, while standing around on the beach and exposing my roots; wiggling them in the sand. I had intended on writing a short-bit about this elusive thing called modern art and understanding it, and while I can’t say I was waylaid, I did find myself dealing with more than I had initially thought. I’ve ended up with three essays, critiques actually, of all things wrong with the art-distribution system that we have today, and none are finished. I figure if non-artistic types can critique art and painters, then I can critique them in return, right?
So, an easy, palatable, easily digested and really, really fun take of How to Understand Modern Art will remain in development, while I give you this.
For those who don’t already know me, as a painter, I started out painting beach-lifestyle paintings art for surfers, full-time, to a fair success. I must say, the figurative aspect of a surfer standing on a board on a wave is what had me develop my own particular approach to portraying the human figure. That continues to evolve to and through this day. I am no longer that surf-artist, now I’m just an artist who paints whatever he’s compelled to paint, which will continue to be injected with the surf theme from time to time, and guess what? Its modern art, yup, and its also contemporary art. This is why my essays are delayed a bit.*
Below I share with you a series of 8 paintings (of which only four are in the photo below) of 80×120 cm, which are around 2 1/2 X 4 feet. They’re stretched canvas, and done in oil paints. I’ve done my standard image wrap, so more image is revealed on the sides, top and bottom, and no framing is needed prior to hanging.
I’ve called this series cryptically and deceptively “On the Beach” (its not really a nod to Neil Young, even though I’ve frequented the same beach that’s on that album cover, its location being a quiet little beach at the north end of Zuma Beach, just up by Neil’s Cadillac Ranch up behind Trancas Point in Western Malibu at the time (I did want to give you a long, parenthetical closure with this one, so here ya’ go)).
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