2015 JAMIE WYETH EXHIBITION - PART 2

JAMIE WYETH continued painting REALISM. Here is his yellow lab, "KLEBERG", who one day wandered up to Jamie while he was painting. Jamie took some black paint and painted the circle around Kleberg's eye, because it reminded him of the dog Pete, in "The Little Rascals". Jamie liked the look so much, it remained there for the rest of Kleberg's life, although Jamie did switch from paint to moustache dye, because he then only had to touch it up about once a month.

The full painting - "KLEBERG" - 1984 (age 38)

What fun he must have had painting these chickens.  

"10 W 30" - 1981 painted on cardboard with a cardboard box as the subject matter.

"CORNFLAKES" - 1985 

"TWINS" (1990) was inspired by two children he saw at a local market - one with wild hair and the other with cornrows. He ran out to the parking lot (leaving his cart in line) to ask their mother if he could paint them.  

It was tough not to get a reflection of paintings on the opposite wall and the overhead light. In person, the wings of the "DRAGONFLY" (1994) were shimmering with iridescence from the pearls that he ground into powder and mixed with his paint. I was so taken by the Dragonfly itself, I didn't realize until now that the Purple Martin had him in his beak.

JAMIE again painted his wife PHYLLIS, as she recuperated from surgery at a lighthouse they own in MAINE. My friend MERRY pointed out to me that her right arm is supporting a crutch, which I hadn't noticed. The scene appears calm but we were directed to look at the turbulent sea through the inside window - intentionally mimicking the ordeal she had just endured. 

"SOUTHERN LIGHT" - 1994 (age 48)

I was taken by "P.W. and ZIGGY", a 1998 watercolor, unframed, displayed under glass.

And I'm a big fan of miniatures, so these 4 caught my eye.

"HOMER" - 2003

"STEALING HOLLY" - 2004

"THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE" - 2008

"BARNEY AND MISS BEAZLEY CONFERRING, INDIA OFF" (Study #2) - 2005

After his father's death in 2009, JAMIE had a recurring dream, which inspired him to paint several scenes of his father and grandfather standing on the HEADLANDS of MONHEGAN ISLAND, MAINE. His friend, ANDY WARHOL and painter WINSLOW HOMER are also included in these scenes.

"SEA WATCHERS" - 2009 (age 63)

"A RECURRING DREAM" - 2011 (age 65)

Closeup of ANDY WARHOL in the bottom left corner of "SEA WATCHERS"

"THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS" (anger, lust, gluttony, sloth, pride, greed and envy) depicted by a series of spectacular seagulls - 2005 - 2008

I'd rather keep your attention than bore you.  There are several more paintings that were in the Exhibit that I feel compelled to share with you, so there will be a PART 3 shortly.  Actually some of those in PART 3 are my FAVORITES!

ARE YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT???

Joan