Friday, September 23, 2016

September Woods; Victor Hugo; Emily Dickinson; "Tell all the truth but tell it slant,"




September Woods
 oil  6" x 8"

"It is by the real that we exist; it is by the ideal that we live."
Victor Hugo

"Tell all the truth but tell it slant,
Too bright for our infirm delight,
The truth's superb surprise."
Emily Dickinson

Every painting is a balance between Victor Hugo's 'real' and his 'ideal' - and has to be by the nature of the painting's hand made quality. there are those who strive for absolute photographic truth in painting but that is simply a compromise of a particular kind. Make no mistake, every painting is a balancing along the fine razor's edge between the real and the ideal; the human mark measured against or in cahoots with the perceived reality. The task therefore, is to find the cohesive and expressive 'slant' that best bring us to the essence of what was found by the painter, while avoiding sentimentality or cliche - that allows viewers to experience the painter's discoveries. Perhaps most effective are those who trust the viewer enough to allow participation in deciphering the mystery rather than dictating the terms - telling it slant to match our infirm delight. Enjoy!



Autumn Gold
oil  8" x 10"




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