Astonishing improvement in painting.
 

I thought I would post something about Craig Wylie, an artist I went to university with. He is currently short-listed for the 2008 BP Portrait Award with this painting: http://www.craigwylie.com/ .

This is an example of his early work from a decade ago:
http://www.craigwylie.com/?p=24

and this:
http://www.craigwylie.com/?p=62

This is another example of his current painting:
http://www.craigwylie.com/?p=89

and this:
http://www.craigwylie.com/?p=25

I don't really like it - the later work, that is - but I do admire how good he has become. I thought it is interesting to see how well one can improve with focus and determination.

Hi Thomasin,
It's a paradox how he seems to have learnt to trace and forgot how to paint in such short time.
What a pity.

It looks like he is exploring different approaches. Good for him. Thomasin just as you said

I totally agree!

I have by pure chance seen some of Wylie's still life works yesterday night through a the dark window of a gallery which is close to my house !
http://www.jonathancooper.co.uk/view...e=C-Wylie-2008

I respect his desire to go in a certain direction with his work, though for how much I try I still cannot bring myself to like any hyperrealistic work.

The BP in recent years seems to be going very much toward photographic reproduction (as my tutor said, leaving the RSPP to carry the flag for painting), I am very curious to see the whole show this year and I strongly hope to be surprised.

I wonder how painters who work in this style are setting themselves new goals: do they go for ever more elaborate rendering, do they look for rocambolesque composition, do they concentrate on finding unusual subjects and points of view ? How do they see their art in a few years, and how will they keep the excitement in the long run ?

Ilaria

This kind of art is hot now, and is selling for BIG $$$ in New York.

I think some artists who are very facile use their talent to stay current rather than paint what moves them. Perhaps they aren't sure what they really want to say, or maybe how they want to say it. They are technically able to pull off a tour de force of what is popular now, so they do, to become known. I could not imagine doing that, or even wanting to do that.

When I look at art, I want to see what was in the artist's heart. I want to see how it was made, the mixture of struggle and confidence.

Thank-you Sharon. You are always so encouraging, and it helps tremendously! So many people from my university seemed to have dropped out of art-making altogether, or stopped trying that it was good to see someone successful and who seems to have worked hard to get where he is. The thing about being a top finalist and winning is that you become part of the status quo, and any deviations from the conventions you make after that are admired (probably) rather than ridiculed (so it seems ... maybe).

Astonishing improvement in painting
 

I think this guy has developed a new flair for realism. I love all styles of

painting the face as far as the work gives me a kind of inner response, something of an emotional buzz. I love some of the depth in his new work. Its good to have post like this that reveals an artists' present and past work!

I very much enjoyed looking at these posts. Is it art for the sake of art?

I enjoy a good abstract, too.

I used to enjoy a fine wine. I don't need to know the history of the wine to be able to taste it and be satisfied. I should know the history to purchase it.

If a piece of art captures my mind and requires me to take a second look and then entices me to look deeper at it, I don't care what form or theory it comes from. It has me and I am caught. But that doesn't mean I'd buy it (like I could afford to).

My appreciation of this work says more about my sheltered life in my little world than it does about the artist. I can't bring myself to judge them at this time. Suffice to say I can't agree nor disagree, other points of view are valid.