In previous critiques here on Art & Perception I referred to a lack of “robust colors” in some paintings. I wanted to show some positive examples of what I mean by “robust colors.” These still life paintings by Gautam Rao are just what I had in mind.
This still life of a liquid soap container has a lovely contrast of warm colors (the orange soap) and cool grays of the background. This deliberate contrast of warm and cool is, I believe, a key aspect of getting a solid, strong color statement.
The still life of a glass of orange juice has a more complex balance, but the same strong quality is there. Look at how he contrasts the strong decorative colors, and the color of the surface of the juice, with the more subtle colors of juice seen through the glass, and merged with reflections of light off the glass itself. The color of the orange juice is wonderfully rendered, I think. The cool grays also play a role in the background of this painting.
Gautam’s ability to work with both intense, even garish colors and the neutral and cool grays give justice to Walter Bartman‘s description of him as “a fabulous talent.”
As a former Bartman student, Gautam knows what group critique is about. He is game for criticism. Comments?
I am having a big problem getting the images into this post. Please come back later.
I thought at first the little red x’s were some conceptual pieces. I was kind of liking them :)
Will stop back later…
I spend more time fighting with Blogger than writing blog posts…
Okay, I see the images now. I hope you see them also (if not, check out the Gautam Rao’s site). An hour fighting with Blogger has put me in a grumpy mood, perfect for criticism.
SOAP STILL-LIFE
1. The shadow of the soap container on the table seems to be missing something. I would expect to see more color here, and more variation of tone. The soap is transparent, so it should serve as a light filter and cast a colored shadow, no?
2. It seems that the soap container is on a reflective surface (porcelain, probably). Why is light/dark reflected, but not color? Or am I being dense?
3. On the left side there is a dark, near-horizontal line in the middle of the painting. I feel like I want to see this line continue on the right side of the soap container. But it doesn’t. This is unsettling. That might be good, and it might not be, depending on the artist’s intentions.
4. The very top left of the soap dispenser head seems a bit weak. It fades into the background. Okay, why shouldn’t it? Well, imagine a portrait where the face disappears into the background. Again, not necessarily bad, depending on the artist’s intentions.
5. The flat soap dish in the background, the white one, is a little bit disappointing when compared to the clear soap container. True, it is a background object. I think though that a little bit more clarity would have been better. It seems to be a shiny plastic object, but the reflections are quite vague.
6. The pink soap has a vague quality, but this is perfect for a piece of solid soap. My on complaint here is that the darker pink shadow is a bit too much the same all the way along. It seems to be missing something, the eye stops dead there.
ORANGE JUICE AND PLATE
1. The top of the glass is not a well formed ellipse. In fact, this does not bother me a bit. This is a painting, after all. What does bother me is that the topmost part of the glass does not seem transparent somehow. The gray oval we see there seems more like a half-cover on the glass than a section of the background seen through the glass.
2. The artist has done a wonderful job of keeping the strong pattern on the plate ON THE PLATE, that is, looking as though it is constrained to the plate surface. This is quite amazing, when you stop to think about it. This only breaks down on the lower left side, where there is an orange square with a black outline. This does not seem to be on the plate, but to project vertically above the plate.
3. The curve of the rim of the plate does not seem quite right. It seems to dip down to the left of the glass, where it should still be going up.
This is a plate, right? I check the original site for confirmation, but all I can go on is how it looks. Maybe it is a table top.
GENERAL COMMENTS
Despite the criticism above, these paintings are in my opinion great examples of direct and spontaneous work. The strength in use of color by far makes up for the flaws I mention (if you agree that those are indeed flaws).
My bigger problem is this: what is the artistic statement here? I find these wonderful paintings, but they do not challenge me to have deep thoughts or feelings (aside from being impressed with how well they are done). Another Bartman student, Leslie Holt, painted a still life that I have not seen in twenty years. But I still remember its emotional impact on me. Technically I don’t think it was better than the soap and juice paintings here. Color-wise it was perhaps less robust. But this painting (which I am hoping Leslie will send me an image of soon) has a powerful emotional impact that I find lacking in the two still life pictures we see here today. Gautam Rao, I don’t think soap and juice are your true passions. I think you should find what are, and you will paint something amazing.
I love the colours, the boldness, but yes the top of the glass isn’t working for me for two reasons. The first is that it doesn’t look see through and the second is that the rim of the glass is almost lined up with the horizon line.
How big are these? Would the artistic statement depend on size?
Gautam does a nice job of letting the viewer see what he sees in these ordinary objects. Gautam’s paintings make good examples for the descriptions of color usage.
Friends,
Karl has clearly done an amazing job in creating a space for discussion and a community that’s willing to contribute. I plan on adding to the discussion now that I know this is here. Thanks for the comments, and keep them coming!
Just to give a little more information about the two paintings featured:
“Juice with Dora” is 6″x7″ oil on masonite and
“Soap Painting” is 7″x7″ also oil on masonite.
There’s a video of the creation of the Soap painting on my website: http://playfulpainter.blogspot.com/
You’ll see that the soap dish was added later in the painting process.
To a certain extent I agree with Karl about the lack of emotional content in these. I was thinking in fairly formal terms. I am still exploring.. a recent self portrait is called “Blankness” and I do feel a sense that I have the opportunity to take my art in new directions.
Look forward to reading this blog regularly.
Gautam