I recently saw a lecture by a local artist, Tommy Van Auken. This was especially interesting to me because I have had him as a teacher for several classes I have taken at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Tommy Van Auken went to art school, but considers himself a self-taught painter. His influences are not the people he admires, but the people he aspires to NOT be like. He had a number of intriguing points. For example, he is an artist who finds the execution of his art more important than the subject. He also, contrary to the exact project we are now working on, does not believe artists should work from photography: he thinks it is a tool, but copying photographs shows a lack of imagination, and that tools displace creativity. He also said that although he is traditional in that he works from live models, he is not ultra-conservative. Finally, he made the distinction between institutional artwork and "figurative art juxtaposed magazine scene". The former is all concept, the latter is good product but not as advanced intellectual content. I am inspired by his passion for art, and for using live models. I agree that using live models is much more creative and allows greater artistic opportunity compositionally. However, I don't feel that the photorealistic style limits creativity: it certainly shows skill, and the composition can still be determined. I wish I could ask a few questions. I wonder what inspires his work, how he chooses colors not traditionally seen in people for skin tones, and why he hates self portraits so much. My absolute favorite part of his lecture was how incorporated he is in the RVA art scene; the inspiration from the city is evident in much of his work. |
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June 2017
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