Viewpoint 2009...

Trusting Chef Roger   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

"Trusting Chef Roger" has been included in, and received second place in, Viewpoint 2009, a national exhibition sponsored by The Cincinnati Art Club. (I am so happy that I attended college close to Cincinnati and learned how to spell it then) It is always gratifying to receive validation from someone else for our work. As we work mostly in solitary conditions, I think that sometimes we are too hard on ourselves......and sometimes too easy. The exhibition is open through November 22 and is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-5 pm. Too Bad. The club is located at 1021 Parkside Place in Mount Adams.

Trust

Trusting Chef Roger   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

O.K.....I have a hard time trusting people....we all have our emotional baggage. But sometimes we can feel akin to strangers. That happened the morning we were scheduled to have Roger Thomas of the Piatto Novo of Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls as our model for three sessions. I had the opportunity to ride up to our studio in the elevator with Chef Roger. There was something familiar in his countenance that felt comforting to me. I had seen his look before in my own family. When I asked him about it, I found that his heritage was quite similar to mine...some northern European, including Wales, as well as some American Indian from the Blackfoot tribe. I really don't get into the ancestry thing at all, as that goes against my "living in the present" philosophy. But, all in all, I found it interesting. As I result, I found it a pleasure to paint him....I felt the intimacy that is necessary for me to turn out a portrait with feeling. I like the portrait. And I like Chef Roger. After the sessions were over, he treated all of us painters to lunch at his restaurant. What a nice, nice feeling.

Dialogue

Trusting Chef Roger   oil/canvas   48 x 24 x 1.5

Painting from a model is like a dialogue ...it requires information from the two participants. When I am unable to cull something interesting or lovable from a model, the painting is a disappointment from the start. My art group painted a local chef of some renown. I was lucky enough to ride the elevator up with him prior to our first session. This large man was gentle and kind. He also had some similar features to my own family. When I asked him about his heritage, I found that it was almost identical to mine. I guess I felt like he was from "my tribe". When our three sessions were over, he treated all of the artist participants to a fabulous lunch at his restaurant. Since that time, I have heard repeated compliments from other people about Chef Roger. "Trusting Chef Roger" will be exhibited in Youngstown at The Butler Institute of American Art 72nd Midyear Exhibition from July 13 - August 24.