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November 27, 2007
The talent right under our noses
The artist Robert E. (Bob) Johnson with "Kensett's Studio: Contentment Island"
Darien resident Bob Johnson will exhibit his paintings in the Main Reading Room as our Art on View from Tuesday, December 4, 2007 through Monday, January 7, 2008.
I think the way to best highlight Bob's show, is to let him do the talking...so to speak. His talent speaks for itself, however, his personality really shines in his Artist's Statement:
"There is a very clear connection between my two careers of airline pilot and artist. (I'm not trying to imply that I flew with artistry.) The connection I refer to is the relationship I sense with nature. As an aviator, the natural world has an immediate and physical effect on you and your airplane whereas, as an artist, the effect is sensory and emotional.
There are so many moments in an aviator's world when a natural phenomenon commands your attention. I contrast the physicality of approaching a line of immense thunderstorms over Oklahoma with a quiet peace of an early morning takeoff from a place like Seattle or San Francisco or Tucson at the moment when the sun's corona first impacts the nights' sky.
As an artist, my goal is to capture these special moments when the observer of the natural world is brought up short in his tracks by a unique combination of light and color, contrasting shapes and forms, or simply subject matter that is evocative for the viewer. In this process, it is imperative to also make a connection with the viewer on a human emotional level to convey happiness, solitude, thoughtfulness, whimsy, awe, beauty (you get the idea...it can be a long list)." -- Robert E. Johnson
The artist suggests that we reflect upon a quote from Leonardo Da Vinci:
"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt. Poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."
"Rowayton Harbor"
Posted by BarbaraT at November 27, 2007 05:02 PM
Comments
Beautifully presented...
Beautifully said...
Thank you for the written words and the perfect painting.
Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2007 08:40 PM