Figurative Painting

Joseph Millard

1)

"Blonde Natalia In Studio Arrangement", Kent Williams, Oil on Canvas, 29" x 27", 2012

               Kent Williams' use of color and foreshortening help to create depth. The way in which shadows are rendered give the feeling of space which works in conjunction with the foreshortening of the figure to help that depth. The breaking up of the background and muted colors give the feeling of a background, but some of the depth is lost. The dark and light panes do not interact with the figures, so the light that should be reacting to them is not.

"V", Stephen Cefalo, Oil on Canvas, 16" x 12", 

           The angle of the head and the shading of the hues under the eyes give the feeling of the figure leaning forwards, helping to imply some sort of depth. The strength of the hues also helps to give off the feeling of depth with the brightest in the foreground and the darker ones receding. Unfortunately the equal treatment of the paint across the canvas makes the figure fall kind of flat. All the paint strokes are fairly even in the way they are lain down.

"Portrait of a Man" David Kassan

                  Kassan's approach to the figure is one of complete realism. His use of paint and the fashion of blending he employs makes the figure as real as possible. The proportion, posture, and graduation of skin tones all help to convey the realistic figure. The way the figure sits on the background makes him feel detached. They do not react to each other; the light hitting him doesn't affect the wall, nor does the wall seem to cast any sort of apparent shadow upon him. There are a few points where the colors don't seen to contrast too well and part of the figure starts to meld.

2)
I found this piece right across from UNM campus on Baileys restaurant/bar. I don't know how long it has been there and I don't know how long it will be up. The painting is great, it uses wonderful scale and size to mimic depth, the colors are all really well balanced, and the proportions of what a shark in a suit might be seem as realistic as I could ever hope for.