The American sublime: Jaded art world gasps in amazement at American Christian landscape painters

WORLD ^ | 10/26/02 | Gene Edward Veith

[justshutupandtakeit]

Kandinsky, Miro, Klee, Klimt are all interesting. Only the latter is representational.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Yes, it is going too far. Picasso was very experimental and his work has numerous styles some great some not.

[CyberAnt]

Excuse me ... since when does "reality" have ANYTHING to do with painting or the perceptions of the artist.

You don't like Kincaid's work - I would suggest it's because he's a Christian, and not because you think his art is unrealistic.

[secretagent]

Thanks. Incredible Hanson piece - I assume on the right!

The janitor doesn't look too beat down to me, but I don't imagine Rockwell painting him that way.

Harder for me to see the skill in the shark, because I don't play with Photoshop-like programs. For all I know one could just scan a photo of and do minimal touch-up. Moving images that one can't just film and fool a little with - I can understand the skill there.

[secretagent]

Thanks for the tips.

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, come on, get real! What a leap from an analysis of obvious defects of lighting and perspective, to a conclusion that I don't like Christians!

Asher Durand painted some amazing and dramatic Christian allegorical pictures, so did Thomas Cole. I like them both. They handle light, structure, and perspective extremely well. Kinkade doesn't, and that would still be true were he Jewish, Muslim, or heathen Chinee.

Calling oneself a "Christian artist" is not an excuse for bad technique. Religion, doctrine, or imagination has nothing to do with messing up perspective or painting a scene as though there are three suns in the sky (unless I suppose you were illustrating a science fiction story.)

(BTW, I'm an unreconstructed 1928 Prayer Book Anglo-Catholic, married to a Methodist preacher's grandson. So much for your off the cuff conclusion.)

[AnAmericanMother]

Thanks. I'm just an art nut with a good visual memory. My poor children have to put up with this stuff all the time! ;-D

I understand the difference between realism and imagination, but my personal opinion (and that and 50 cents might get me a cheap cup of coffee) is that even imaginative painting shouldn't break the laws of nature without an adequate explanation. And three distinct light sources in the sky in an open-air painting is (again in my opinion) cheating, unless it's the Second Coming or something. This, on the other hand, is incredibly dramatic but still playing fair (courtesy of Thomas Cole again):

Not three but FOUR light sources - but he explains them all: sun, moon, fire, and . . . volcano!!!

[Richard Kimball]

They're both sculptures. That's what made me admire Hanson's work so much. I didn't want to post any of his really downbeat work on this particular thread, but if you see enough of his work, you'll see what I mean.

The shark wasn't done in photoshop, it was created in Maya, a 3d graphics program. It's the same program used to create the animation in Shrek, Monsters Inc, etc. Without getting too deep into it, he started by making a 3d wire frame shaped like a shark. He created joints and other "moveable" links to allow it to move fins, open and close it's mouth, etc. Then he selects a "skin" texture and applies that to the outside. Finally, he paints the surface of the skin to make it look like a shark. This was not done from a photo. It's a screen shot, but using the proper animation program, you can create a 3d movie of it swimming, with water surface reflections shimmering on it's back, and a good game programmer can make it controllable with a joystick. I'm probably prejudiced since he's my brother, but his talent blows me away. The advantage of this over a real shark is that this shark will take direction, and doesn't eat nearly as much.

[secretagent]

Thanks!

[Exit148]

Thank you for this thread. In these trying hours, my blood pressure has dropped down to normal after gazing at these beautiful landscapes.

I am an art nudnig, and I don't mind saying so. Kincaid makes me feel comfortable. I imagine my self, all comfy in one of his homes, with a blazing fireplace inside, and a stormy night outside. I am warm and cozy , with my husband, my music, my books, and my FreeRepublic. All is right in the world!

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Have you tried linking a site yet? You know the a href thing.

Yes, and it worked. Thanks.

[JudyB1938]

That moon scene is the most beautiful picture I've ever seen. I sure wish there were a way to get a print of it. However, since it's in private ownership, they'd probably not give the right to do so.

Thanks for sharing it.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

That moon scene is the most beautiful picture I've ever seen.

That's exactly how I feel. I'm glad that you like it as much as I do.

I sure wish there were a way to get a print of it.

Me, too. Maybe when the De Young Museum gets rebuilt, they will offer a print of it. I've got this vague idea about contacting the museum, and asking someone if a print exists. (I'll probably wait until it reopens.) I actually saw a site on the Internet where somebody is offering to paint a reproduction of it! Unless he's seen the moon in person, there's no way he could ever duplicate it.

[TomSmedley]

The unrealistic lighting and flat perspective of Kinkade are very noticeable.

Perhaps an accurate reflection of his Mormon (LDS) faith. As another popular LDS artist admitted, "Mormonism is not a transcendent faith." (Orson Scott Card, novelist)

[TomSmedley]

The unrealistic lighting and flat perspective of Kinkade are very noticeable.

Perhaps an accurate reflection of his Mormon (LDS) faith. As another popular LDS artist admitted, "Mormonism is not a transcendent faith." (Orson Scott Card, novelist)

[Lilly]

The last pic in post #18 is just heavenly! The hue is amazingly warm! How divine!!! More more more pics please!!!

[Lilly]

re: post #21

Wow! The 2nd of Mr. Homer's is so realistic. I can almost feel a spray of water if I look deeply into the picture! How wonderful! I love water!!

[Lilly]

re: post #29

Oooooooo! Pretty, pretty!

[JudyB1938]

If you find the print ever becomes available, I hope you can remember my name and flag me. :0)