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Enzie, the artist's name whose work you posted is Thomas Anschutz.
Thanks Mischa, I'm always happy that my words have a positive effect. I just share my experience. I don't speak hypothetically nor do I try to assume knowledge of subjects of which I have none. I have little tolerance for anyone who speaks for the sake of hearing their own voice, or bullies others into agreement, in order to compensate for their insecurities. I just tell it like it is. I like to stir the pot.
When I spoke about the common traits which attract me to certain works of art, I wasn't talking strictly about technique. Obviously technical skill is very important when it comes to expressing one's ideas, just as a good grasp of prose can be a powerful tool for a writer. Poor use of language, just like bad technique can be very distracting.
The most important quality that a painting can possess, in my opinion, is that of sincerity. I look for a genuine connection between the artist and the subject. There needs to be a certain sense of awe for what one is painting. This quality is first and foremost when I view the best works of Paxton, Bouguereau, Kramskoy and DeCamp. I feel the love baby. It needs to come from the heart and convey to the viewer why it had to be painted.
It's sad that so many of our artistic brethren are too quick to dismiss certain skillful artists simply because they have great facility and they therefore totally miss the true beauty. A painting isn't necessarily bad if it's tight or a portrait, nor is it necessarily good if it's loose or allegorical. Style is not the determining factor in judging good from bad.
The painters I like also all seem to demonstrate a convincing understanding of what they are painting. Certain elements may merely be suggested but they are never just techniqued out. In addition, there is a huge difference between copying and understanding. It doesn't matter if you copy from life or from a photo. If you don't understand something, it's just copying. Working from life can help you understand, but only if you truly search.
I also think far too many artists look at the paintings they admire in a strictly superficial way and are seduced primarily by the surface, be it tight or brush-strokey. Too many artists are trying to emulate surface effects and to me this is the major shortcoming with realism today.
I post here to get people to open their eyes and think. The smarter we artists are, the better the odds the general public will be enlightened as well.
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