Sunday, December 4, 2011

Portrait of an Oil Plant






















“Oil Plant # 9 (Broken Pipe)"
oil on panel, 2011
6” x 6” (15.24cm x 15.24cm)

This is the third of my paintings in the  6" Squared Exhibition and Sale at the Randy Higbee Gallery , Saturday December 3rd through Thursday December 22nd.
The opening was packed as usual with lots of little painted gems. The real joy of a show like this is the wide variety styles and artistic approaches among the 500 or so artworks, including some fabulous watercolors and pastels. Impossible to pick a favorite. In addition to the art, meeting the collectors and other artists is always a highlight of the evening.

When I have a visceral reaction to something I sometimes have to pause, really look and figure out what it is I’m seeing. It is not always obvious. I initially responded to this view of the storage tanks for its clean, neat and tidy nature. Not too cluttered, no scattered remnants of the broken plant other than the broken pipe, which was my own invention.
What I eventually saw in this view was an industrial version of an old face, wrinkles and all... a portrait of the oil plant ... solemn, dignified. It reminded me of a man with most of his years behind him, who had a well lived life, worked hard, but is still vital, still fastidious and loaded with silent stories.153


Click on image for larger view

4 comments:

  1. Your painting is very interesting. I like the industrial melancholy. The color of your pictures. And the things you paint. I like your ideas.
    A greeting

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  2. Thank you Ricardo,
    I enjoy your watercolors, especially your industrial, boats and port paintings. You have a very deft hand for the drawing in your watercolors.

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  3. Thank you Suzanne,
    The industrial subject is one of my favorites.
    And thanks for taking the time to read the posts and my thoughts.

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