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| Middle Age oil/canvas 16 x 8 x 1.5 |
In our youth- and diet-oriented culture, we seem to cringe at the the notion of middle age. My work was painted from a detailed sketch made during a live model situation. There were those who really didn't want to participate, as this gentleman's body veered quite a ways from the beautiful norm that we admire. As I have never appreciated or enjoyed the notion of physical perfection, nor likewise the notion of ugliness in order to make a statement, I thoroughly appreciated the opportunity before me. (I much enjoy the French term jolie-laide, which incorporates a bit of both) Middle age...the period where gravity takes its toll, where backs laden with fatigue become curved...where support is welcome...where plumpness becomes the norm. Yes. I relished the opportunity to reduce this drawing to a few simple shapes and lines that would tell the story of middle age.
P.S. A simple look around the studio revealed similar bodies, even among those who scoffed. Life is interesting.
