A proper foundation
 

I've mentioned before that I was once a builder of fancy homes for fancy people. The image below, the boss of my foundation crew, was taken on the site of the last home I built. It was typical in that it was a custom home, original design, difficult site, with a client hovering over me for two years. The sort of ingredients that make me sigh and think how glad I am that I don't have to wake up to this anymore. Ten years of this and I was never sued -- the only true measure of a man.

The further I get from the events of this image the more I am able appreciate it. Also, my perceptions regarding what portraiture may be have been modified substantially since then.

My reasons for posting this image are to make the comparison between this, a man working at his profession, and the many corporate portraits of suited men surrounded by books. Not to malign those images too much, I wish I had a google of them backed up. But, to say that they offer sameness ... well.

I believe that my sensitivities, my thinking about what a portrait can be has been altered by the images I've studied on Daniel Greene's new web site.

Is this man, spattered with concrete mud, any less worthy of our efforts? I post Daniel Green's image of "The radiologist," not to demean it in any way, but to suggest that it is not much different than this "Man of concrete." Both are shown heroically, in their element.

I don't mean to ask this question in a way that suggests that the answer must be yes. It certainly offers a different aesthetic. Matters of concept and judgment are by nature difficult to discuss in absolute terms, but, I would be interested in hearing opinions on the subject. Hey, what else do you have to do?

Also, I think that some might call this a figurative image, I would call it a portrait.

I agree on that and D. G.'s radiologist portrait is much more charming and at ease than countless other portraits of note worthy professionals. I suppose the "in the element" depiction as well as the man's relaxed countenance play a big part in the down to earth feel of this work.

Are you going to paint this portrait of your foundation crew boss? With all the memories and sentiments that are attached to this individual, I can't imagine a painter better suited for the task.

Well, Daniel Greene comes to mind.

I will admit that my questions are often more clear in my mind than on the page. I'll try and articulate it better as I watch men play football today in the frozen north. Maybe the intravenous beer / guacamole dip will bring things into better focus.

What has changed? I gather your statement is a lot more philosophical than my previous comments. But I haven't got the "corporate portraiture" work experience to relate really.

Beer and football, better you than me Mike :)

Mike,

That is a portrait and one with meaning.

Truth is I don't really like beer, and I rarely watch sports on TV until the end of the season. As I've watch it recently I see that the advertisers are convinced that the viewers are a collection of males who have two things in common -- they drink a lot of beer, and they are romantically challenged. I wonder if one doesn't have a lot to do with the other.

Regarding Daniel Greene -- 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. In the case of Robert Beverly Hale -- the eyes cast down, looking as a man might who's lived a long life. The craggy hands painted not in suggestion, or hidden behind the coat, but up front in detail.

And to the right, the geometric guidelines suggesting some of the elements of draftsmanship. Yet, not eliminated at the end, but left as part of the composition.

I also see this exposed humanity in the portrait of Mr. Steinberg.

What is possible, what is appropriate, is limited only by the imagination and our own intestinal fortitude.

Having said all that -- When I was in the home building business there was among builders an unspoken competition to create the "new" look, that "cutting edge" design which would stand you apart. Having watched this transpire over the years it brought into focus the principal that there is a very fine line between dynamic "leading edge" design, and just plain goofy.

In my opinion any person is worthy of a portrait, but for several reasons there are only a few taken under the brush.

The challenge is the painters. He is the one that has to decide the pose, outfit and expression. Anyway we have to choose among the possibilities.

As long as the painting is a portrait of the person and not the outfit.

There are too may suits in traditional portraiture.

Allan

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 :)

I think you should do a portrait of the "Man of Concrete".

Suits
 

Suits, suits suits.

Allan, here are a few more.

I wonder if this was the case in the two examples above. I would love to have been a fly on the wall while these discussions took place. I notice that the portrait of Mr. Steinberg was signed in 1976. Mr. Steinberg looks to be very mature at this point in his life. I don't know what the stature of Daniel Greene was some thirty years ago, or whether his reputation alone would have been of sufficient weight to impose his will on such a figure.

It would seem to have been either a compelling argument from the artist, or the position of the client. I would give the nod to Mr. Greene because it keeps showing up. Anyway, it's left for fools to ponder.

There are it seems more than one track for the portrait artist. One is to provide financially for yourself and those that depend on your efforts. Others with less financial restraints might be more easily seduced by the eclectic. Then there are those that just **** the elements and do what they have to do.

The best position to be in is probably to have a couple of projects going at the same time.

About D.G.'s subjects: at some point certain people seem to give up their vanity and decide simply to surrender to the artist and become artistically interesting. This is going to happen to me personally any moment now.

MERCUTIO

Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word:
If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire
Of this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'st
Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!

Mike,

It would be a great subject for a painting for you to do!

I believe that most painters have at least two projects going on continuously.
Some are financially independent by being rich, rich and famous painters, or married to a rich, while others have another job alongside the painting.

Many, here in Denmark, live on welfare and do there painting as there only activity.

The lucky ones are famous and teach.

I am actually not sure if I would want to live exclusively from painting portraits. I would like to keep the painting business as the fragile flower that I nurse and love and not the pair of horses that have to drag me through the mud of life.

Allan

According to Daniel Greene, Mr. Hale was in fact in very frail condition when this work was done. If I recall correctly, this was not the original pose -- or was at least just one of two poses -- as Mr. Hale was too weak to hold a pose for any length of time. I think Greene said that Hale had trouble even keeping his hands crossed in this pose. (There

Who you callin ho?

You know I was lying anyway in my post. I am far too pathetically vain. I wouldn't even wear Chris's Z-Coils out of the house without wearing one of Sharon's corsets as well.

Allan, you are giving me another reason to want to move to Denmark!

Well fare or welfare, thats the question.

Allan

[QUOTE]though I think it would have been great to have the concrete pump truck

I wasn't even aware that Chris was ill.

Sharon, You cry suits !

Then I want to be the cheerleader of the cute new section and cry. : Nudes, nudes, nudes.

Just to balance things up, Allan

Mike,

I love this thread. I think your subject looks heroic. I think you should paint this. Many challenges, which I know you will address.

Thank you for your concern over my health. As I will turn 53 on Sunday, I will most graciously accept your(anyone's!) ridiculously over the top gifts. On the other hand, since it is the same day as the Iraq election, I will be more than happy with world peace.

And I will promise to take you to the Z-Coil store when you are next in Phoenix.
Hugs

Chris,

My mind is a blur with questions.

A) Didn't I see one of those on that Paris Hilton video?

2) Have you ever had one of these U-Coil while standing in line at the pharmacy?

iii) Is the A-Coil the smallest?

I think world peace could be within our reach if more suicide bombers were Z-Coiled on a regular basis.

OK all! I give up! What is a Z-Coil and what would Linda Brandon be doing with one and a corset? The mind can only boggle!

A) Yes but Paris Hilton has been copying eveverything I do. I can't stand it.
2) No,my health insurance is deplorable
iii) I can't answer this.

I agree with the world peace thing. If your feet feel great, what's to get exorcised over?

Sharon here are these marvelous shoes..
__________________

ps I don't know about the corset, but I have one on order too.

Chris,

When can we see the pictures?

And what does that shoe have to do with a Z-Coil, Linda Brandon and a corset?

Is that the de riguer designer shoe for the nursing home set on dress down day?

I'm so enjoying this thread.

Mike, I think you should paint this also.

Jean