Jimmy Baker, "Double Tillman"

   It has been a while since we have looked at a contemporary artist and new work, and this particular image by Jimmy Baker is somewhat different from others of his.   At first glance our painting for this week appears to be a landscape, maybe a setting or rising sun.  Our attention is drawn to the circle just slightly above middle center, and the arches above and swirls of color high light it.  Look at the lower half, the earth.  The light has highlighted rocks or wood chips, but we are unable to distinguish more.   I think this painting allows us to determine for ourselves what to make of it.   Is this a dying earth, or one recovering from tragedy?   
     Jimmy Baker (1980-) is from Ohio.  He was born here, received his education in Ohio, and is presently and associate professor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.  His work has achieved critical acclaim with solo exhibitions in Europe and across the United States.  He has developed an interesting technique of digital painting.  According to sources he uses a printing process of UK ink over oil paint.  And, many paintings like our one for this week, are very large; thus dominating a space, room.   "Double Tillman" is listed as an oil and UK ink on canvas.  It measures 84 inches high by 60 inches wide, and was completed in 2011.  I am unclear on ownership of this painting. 


 

Comments

  1. Char HarguthDecember 15, 2021 at 7:31 AM

    This painting is disturbing to me. I feel like the trash and garbage of the earth is imposing on our planet from both sides. The colors give part of the sky an ominous look, but there is a ray of light coming in on the rocks. I am interested in his technique and imagine it requires great skill. I looked at other artwork of his and notice that he uses many bright colors, but not in this one. It is an unusual work to study, but I don't relate to the title. Always fun to see very different work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Art Expert On LineDecember 15, 2021 at 12:05 PM

      Yes, great comments as always. I am glad you looked up other work by him, because he does use very bright colors. I chose this one simply because I thought it an understandable space, where his others seemed to lack depth. I think either a positive or negative impression could come out of this work, and maybe, different days, or different emotions/feelings could change how we interpret it. I don't understand the title, either, which is fine....giving us no clue of the artist's intent. Sometimes, maybe that is best.
      But, it is great to see what successful, contemporary artists are creating and exhibiting.

      Delete
  2. Char HarguthDecember 16, 2021 at 8:12 AM

    I agree that the emotional state we are in at the moment affects how we interpret art (or anything else!!).

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wayne Thiebaud, Sunset Streets

Image
   In giving title to this landscape, California artist, Wayne Thiebaud not only provides the location, but also the time of day.  Knowing that Thiebaud is a California artist provides the last clue to guessing the probably location.  Smartly, The San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art purchased this painting for its permanent collection in 1986, a year after it was completed.  Sunset Streets is an oil on canvas measuring 48" x 35".      Wayne Thiebaud was born in 1920 and resides in California. He is one of several artists creating a distinct California aesthetic using heavy pigment and exaggerated color.   He is best known for his commonplace objects, figures, and landscapes. of which this is a perfect example.    The composition of this work is amazing.  Right down the center, at a slight tilt is this blue-black stripe, K shape, beginning with a heavy base and capped with a large triangle of sorts.  The painting is...
Read more

Childe Hassam "The Avenue in Rain"

Image
    I probably should have saved this for the 4th of July, but that is a little far off and this work is among Childe Hassam's finest.      I have known of Childe Hassam (1859 - 1935) for a very long time, but only recently did Wikimedia straighten me out about the correct way to pronounce his first name.  It seems the "e" is silent; and his last name is pronounced as written, with two syllables.        From what I have read, Hassam was a pretty sharp guy, and possibly a little  arrogant.  He created 3,000 some works of art in his career and lived his entire adult life on the proceeds of their sale.  This is quite remarkable.  Most artists, (at least before 1930) had to supplement their income by teaching, commissioned portraits or careers outside the art field.  But Hassam figured out not only how to market his work, but also what subjects would be popular.  Timing is always a big issue, and he wa...
Read more