[Leopoldo Benavidez]

Riley,

I too call Fechin my favorite! Out of all the masters out there, he is one that I still puzzle over especially when it comes to his technique. Classically trained. Amazing stuff, almost abstract in nature, heavy pigment, loaded with nuances of color, yet other areas of the canvas still show the primed surface underneath, etc.

I recently left one of his shows in Seattle at the Frye and stood in amazement. I understand he would squeeze out his pigments onto newsprint overnight to leech out the oils and then painted with this heavy pigment. His use of a palette knife along with brushes is so right on. He had the habit of licking his knife with saliva to smooth out areas escpecially in the forehead, cheeks, chin, nose and hands. A very, very contemporary artist! Someday I need to venture out in this direction! Below is one of my favorites, The Manucurists!...L