tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post7943161380039962877..comments2024-03-28T16:36:12.581-04:00Comments on Gurney Journey: East Oaks StudioJames Gurneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-43644751578512709602017-07-22T13:31:27.467-04:002017-07-22T13:31:27.467-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.James Francoishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07638190460197601598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-58457925697347964272017-07-08T23:50:05.399-04:002017-07-08T23:50:05.399-04:00Definitely James, I'm speaking more broadly he...Definitely James, I'm speaking more broadly here than just these guys.Keith Pattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06747953790339399032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-90662598765720184302017-07-08T15:32:09.777-04:002017-07-08T15:32:09.777-04:00@ Keith: I have checked Adam Miller and Cesar Sant...@ Keith: I have checked Adam Miller and Cesar Santos; I'd prefer Cesar though.<br />"Trained in atelier but doing more imaginative work" as you say - Thomas Kinkade is another specimen. People who'd call him "cheesy" don't have an eye for his subtleties and passion, IMO.<br /><br />And yes, James, those timeless goals will be pursued for ever, with the "Hounds of Heaven" at their heels;-)Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14233420155151875249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-34288112674287705642017-07-08T10:44:26.640-04:002017-07-08T10:44:26.640-04:00Rich and Keith, thanks for your comments, which we...Rich and Keith, thanks for your comments, which were respectful and constructive. You raise fair issues about the atelier movement in general, which can sometimes make a fetish of the study. However, about photos being taboo, keep in mind that these guys did say that "as long as an artist’s development and common practice is well founded in working from life, then photography could become a tool." There are other ateliers who regard photos as more of a no-no. As for me, I want to avail myself of any tool or any way of seeing that can make my artwork better. <br /><br />One other thought— to be fair, I don't think these guys are necessarily pursing technique as an end in itself—they're chasing after beauty and mystery, which are beyond technique, and they're timeless goals to pursue, whether you happen to be interested in naturalism or imaginative realism.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-26213129796981228402017-07-08T08:18:32.684-04:002017-07-08T08:18:32.684-04:00Rich, have you seen the work of Adam Miller or Ces...Rich, have you seen the work of Adam Miller or Cesar Santos? Both of them are atelier trained but are doing more imaginative work.<br /><br />I think a problem with ateliers is that 1) they're obsessed with high levels of technique that it becomes an end in and of itself and 2) they're so in awe of the old masters that photographs become taboo.<br /><br />So for the first problem, from what I've seen, many of these artit's get stuck on a hamster wheel of improving technique before getting to more imaginative paintings. I've heard from other students there that they think they should just keep improving their technique from life until they feel they're good enough before they do more imaginative paintings. Maybe I had a sampling bias here, but I think this is the general attitude. The problem is that you'll never see your technique as good as the old masters (unless you're full of yourself!). So the search for perfect technique before doing more designed or imaginative work is a never ending search for perfection. At least that's what I've seen. (I've jumped around studying at a few ateliers)<br /><br />And because they are obsessed with technique, they only work from life. It's hard to build imaginative paintings only from life or imagination, especially if you're aiming for naturalism.Keith Pattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06747953790339399032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-87124902980159967182017-07-07T16:31:30.032-04:002017-07-07T16:31:30.032-04:00I really do have the highest respect for these aca...I really do have the highest respect for these academic painters! And there's so much they can teach / to be learned/ from them in any East Oaks Studio worldwide.<br /><br />But they tend to repeat themselves - they're so in awe of tradition, they are so awfully traditional, to my taste.<br /><br />They perhaps should venture into a Dinotopia of their own: Just my two cents.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14233420155151875249noreply@blogger.com