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Art


My uncle (and namesake) was an artist in Chicago who achieved some local notoriety but was never famous. That said, his oil paintings are quite good...though obviously I'm biased. A few of these below hung in my house growing up, as we lived out in a small town in a large house that had wall space, whereas he lived in a small condo in the north side of Chicago.

Here is his tryptych depicting the Descent from the Cross (see similar paintings by Rubens, van der Weyden, Rembrandt, etc.). These are large oil paintings, some approaching 2m x 3m:

descent-from-the-cross-1974-83x78.png
jesus-on-the-cross-1974-9x7ft.png

descent-part-2-1974-83x78in.png



Here are a few others...

The Dictator:
the-dictator-1974-27x33.png



Orange Dictator:
orange-dictator-1980-36x46.png



The Saint:
the-saint-1957-25x49.png


Red Saint:
red-saint-1957-19x49.png


Figure with exploded sphere:
figure-w-exploded-sphere-1984-72x46.png



Boardwalk:
boardwalk-1974-31x24.png



Driver:
driver-1977-84-48x48.png



He was also gifted at watercolors and this was a self-portrait. These are small 40-60cm
wc-self-portrait-w-train-set-1988.png



A few more watercolors...
wc-sentry-1981.png


wc-manequin-1981.png


wc-figure-and-fire-1980.png



I do recall one thing that stuck with me. He was a full-time artist (luckily because my aunt--his wife--was an accountant who supported him). He never claimed he had talent, he just said that he worked endlessly on technique. He would spend 5 weeks just sketching/drawing hands in various positions and would have like four 80-page notebooks just on hands...then he would move onto feet, then to arms, etc. In my view he certainly had talent, but beyond that I think what he had most was passion. He just loved to paint and draw. He went through periods only painting birds, then Jazz musicians, then abstractions, etc. I could never spend 5 weeks just drawing hands; I would go crazy.
 
Last edited:
TyphooToffee said:
As I've taken up painting and drawing, and am getting to grips with terms like en plein air, scumbling, gesso and other previously unheard of names and terms, I was wondering if anyone else would like to talk about their own adventures in what is a fascinating subject.?
Click to expand...
I’m related to John Skeaping. Although he was born in London his/my family were from Copperas Hill in Liverpool.

John Skeaping - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 

verreauxi said:
o_OMy uncle (and namesake) was an artist in Chicago who achieved some local notoriety but was never famous. That said, his oil paintings are quite good...though obviously I'm biased. A few of these below hung in my house growing up, as we lived out in a small town in a large house that had wall space, whereas he lived in a small condo in the north side of Chicago.

Here is his tryptych depicting the Descent from the Cross (see similar paintings by Rubens, van der Weyden, Rembrandt, etc.). These are large oil paintings, some approaching 2m x 3m:

descent-from-the-cross-1974-83x78.png
jesus-on-the-cross-1974-9x7ft.png

descent-part-2-1974-83x78in.png



Here are a few others...

The Dictator:
the-dictator-1974-27x33.png



Orange Dictator:
orange-dictator-1980-36x46.png



The Saint:
the-saint-1957-25x49.png


Red Saint:
red-saint-1957-19x49.png


Figure with exploded sphere:
figure-w-exploded-sphere-1984-72x46.png



Boardwalk:
boardwalk-1974-31x24.png



Driver:
driver-1977-84-48x48.png



He was also gifted at watercolors and this was a self-portrait. These are small 40-60cm
wc-self-portrait-w-train-set-1988.png



A few more watercolors...
wc-sentry-1981.png


wc-manequin-1981.png


wc-figure-and-fire-1980.png



I do recall one thing that stuck with me. He was a full-time artist (luckily because my aunt--his wife--was an accountant who supported him). He never claimed he had talent, he just said that he worked endlessly on technique. He would spend 5 weeks just sketching/drawing hands in various positions and would have like four 80-page notebooks just on hands...then he would move onto feet, then to arms, etc. In my view he certainly had talent, but beyond that I think what he had most was passion. He just loved to paint and draw. He went through periods only painting birds, then Jazz musicians, then abstractions, etc. I could never spend 5 weeks just drawing hands; I would go crazy.
Click to expand...
Your uncle didn't need to claim he had talent because it's obvious he had. Some of his work reminds me of that of my pre-covid art teacher. Apparently he has at least one oil painting hanging in The Vatican (as opposed to my pencil portrait on OSB hanging in Robert Rinder's mum's kitchen :Blink:). This is his latest to appear on his Instagram account.


Screenshot_20230304-120629-702.webp
 
TyphooToffee said:
Your uncle didn't need to claim he had talent because it's obvious he had. Some of his work reminds me of that of my pre-covid art teacher. Apparently he has at least one oil painting hanging in The Vatican (as opposed to my pencil portrait on OSB hanging in Robert Rinder's mum's kitchen :Blink:). This is his latest to appear on his Instagram account.


View attachment 205929
Click to expand...

Thanks! And that's a cool painting by your former teacher. I like it.
 
Title: 'Lufthansa German Airlines •
Your Velvet Carpet To The World'
Artist: Buttgen
Year: 1956
Summary: In this clever poster, the Earth is at the end of a roped off velvet carpet and the plane is flying above it towards the planet.
The message is that Lufthansa provides top flight treatment and is your gateway to any destination in the world.

FB_IMG_1678233403977.webp
 

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