Art, Nature & Soul #43

Mini-Me’s~Are a more raw & direct approach to my painting. Most certainly completed in one sitting, they assert & express, my more intuitive & free associative natures. These are the pieces I most experiment with, pushing the color combos, textures & general approach, with a matter-of-fact intent …Alla-Prima.

Playing in the paint, immersed in the color, & bathing in the light, my tools are ready to translate the world around me. I had in the past been working on various size canvas/panels for these smaller artworks, but this year I’ve decided to stick to the 12'“ square panel format, as I had a great carrier created for traveling with them. Initially intended for my Plein air works, it also works as a perfect drying rack. Working mostly from my own photo references, life, imagination & plein air work, over this past year, as the pandemic has limited my abiltity to travel and get new references. Recently, I have on occassion also incorperated, when inspired, Facebook friends & family, photos, as references for these studies. Usually a big no-no for me, as I have always worked from & used my own experiences & references in previous years. Now, though, inspiration is sweet inspiration, besides I’m not a literal interpreter of the more realistic.

My aresenol of supplies & tools, are an expanded palette, of color, color & more color. Having learned the limited palette of Rembrandt near 3 decades ago and knowing how to expand the color variety within that limit of, Titanium White, Ivory Black, Yellow Ochre & Venetian Red, I now challenge myself to create, blend, layer & mix new colors, to push the palette to a sublte extreme. As stated I’m using panel, ‘Richeson 12”x12” gessoed hardboard to paint on, for the most part. Then a variety of brushes, palette knives, scratching tools, sculpting tools, make-up applicators, kleenex, my fingers, medium & finishing varnish.

These artworks can be framed or placed on an easel, as they are. They are small, so they are easy and inexpensive to ship. Whether a collector, or new to the scene, they’re a great way to expand or start an art collection.

As always, feel free to comment or contact me if interested in acquiring a ‘SPERRY’ original.

Thank you

Richard Sperry

Art, Nature & Soul #39

In 2006 I began an 8 piece series of artworks under the theme ‘fragments’, on the nature of existence. They seem timely & perhaps, more relevant today. It took several years to complete them & in 2009, three were on exhibition entitled ‘Transformations’ at the Norris Cultural Center, here in Saint Charles, Illinois.

Not unlike Shakespeares poem ‘The Seven Stages of Man’, a favorite passage of mine.

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

I set out to explore my own themes in mixed media & incorporating found objects. In some cases some very personel objects from my own life history, as I believe all art created, is autobiographical in nature & regard.

A journey of a lifetime, entitled in a life progression, such is the paradox of being human as folllows~

Nothingness & Being, Cultivate & Incapacitate, Indifference & Impartiality, Sentiment & Pragmatism, Wisdom & Folly, Civilty & Madness, Regeneration & Frailty, Sleep & Dream

Within the chaos of our lives there are certain symbols and archetypes, that are simple & beautiful truths that connect us all together. The tree is an ancient and varied symbol throughout history and in most all cultures. While the olive tree is typically a symbol of peace, different trees have different meanings, throughout the world. I have chosen, in part, oak tree leaves as one of the most important symbols that are incorporated in all 8 pieces. As  It's a symbol of strength, morale, resistance and knowledge, my tree of life or figuratively speaking, a mobius strip connecting us throughout time & space forever. We’re all, just star stuff, to be sure.

If we take the time to find those things we have in common, rather than focusing on the differences, we can find a mutual understanding of each other. With respect & common decency…more then the pretty or the beautiful, we find that a sublime connection of oneness reveals itself, if we only look with eyes wide shut.

Partial list of mediums and objects include~oak substrate, leaves & bark, acrylic & oil paints, ebony pencil, paint marker, charcoal , oil pastel, india ink, photgraphy, coins & stamps, compass, copper wire & rods, mirror, granite, a variety of drawings and smaller paintings incorpoated, as well as many others.

(*interestingly, I took a single 12” square mirror and broke into 8 varied pieces, added 1 piece to each of the 8, so each individual person can see themselves and when the mirror is put together, see each other and ourselves when joined symbolicaly.)

Please enjoy, consider & contemplate, their meaning and see yourself, see me, see us. buried within the fractal patterns within the chaos.

The 1st image is a promotional card, created for the exhibit. The 2nd, a collage of all 8 works compiled into one. Please, feel free to comment and ask questions,

Richard Sperry

All 8, 48”x48” pieces in collage

Art, Nature & Soul #32

Abstract Realism

Abstract realism is difficult to explain because of the infusion of two distinct styles of art: abstract and realistic. Abstract Realism is the infusion of the elements of design with the depiction of real life in visual art. Realistic imagery is still there, it is sometimes distorted and given fantastically invented abstract forms. . Abstract art is art that doesn't have a definable focus. It is art that exists through patterns, colors, texture and line without the need for an external motivation. Realistic art consists of art that aims to replicate nature. When these two elements combine to create an abstract impression of real life, you get abstract realism.

Being more of expressionist inclined this battle of fusions and ideas, can be found in my lifetime of artwork. Initially seperate concepts for me, I’ve worked diligently to combine them. The concept can be combined in varying degrees of abstract and realism. Rembrandt, most may think of as realism except for, when you get up close to the work, rather than line, we see edges. Edges where blobs of paint create patterns & the design elements abstractly, to which the representational subjects mass is defined and conveyed more realistically.

For me it becomes a spiritual admission. Where as my thoughts on the vary essence of life & meaning is conceptualized in paint. All life is connected atoms, not lines that sepearate entities, but edges blurring one into the other, stardust energy, if you will. Fractals, Chaos & Universiality combining the physical and concious worlds. In my paintings, a more thoughful & emotional gesture is intended, using symbols and mythology.

His name is Gray~He was a hunter of sorts who loved everything beautiful. Narcissus was proud, in that he disdained those who loved him, wanting them to prove their devotion to his striking beauty. Narcissist is one who has a fixation with oneself and one's physical appearance or public perception. Once, during the summer, he was getting thirsty after hunting, and he was lured to a pool where he leaned upon the water and saw himself in the bloom of youth. Narcissus did not realize it was merely his own reflection and fell deeply in love with it, as if it were somebody else. Unable to leave the allure of his image, he eventually realized that his love could not be reciprocated and he melted away from the fire of passion burning inside him, eventually turning into a gold and white flower.

‘Gray, Shades of Narcissist, 30”x30” mixed media on canvas (acrylic & oil paint, 18k gold leaf and paint pen, & ebony pencil)

Your comments & questions are welcome

~Richard