My adventures buying a painting…..
Welcome back. First up this week is a little definition work from the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) website, all related to art and to painting in particular:
Abstraction The process of creating art that is not representational or based on external reality or nature.
Figurative: Representing a form or Abstraction: The process of creating art that is not representational or based on external reality or nature.
Expressionism: An international artistic movement in art, architecture, literature, and performance that flourished between 1905 and 1920, especially in Germany and Austria, that favored the expression of subjective emotions and experience over depictions of objective reality. Conventions of Expressionist style include distortion, exaggeration, fantasy, and vivid, jarring figure in art that retains clear ties to the real world.
In the world of painters terms such as “reserved”, “controlled”, “bold” and “expressionist” are used to describe an artist’s style. For example, up and coming artist Greer Ross Dexter from Houston, Texas way is also the daughter of the well-known painter Robert Newton Roos, Jr., gets great praise from critics and collectors for her use of oils and broad brush strokes. This young lady’s work is based on a figurative style interpreted with abstract and expressionist techniques.
If you are like me all the terminology about painting is a bit over my head, I just like to look at paintings and I know when I’m looking at a piece I like. Everyone’s taste is different of course, whether you prefer abstract, realist, minimalist or other styles of painting.
Where am I going with all this art stuff you may well ask? Saturday night out at Elder Care’s big event, The Good, The Bad and The Barbeque there was a painting in the Live Auction that was donated by Jane Johnstone and Mike McSpadden. Although they live in Texas now both Jane and Mike have history in this area. Jane is the daughter of Leo Johnstone, one of Bartlesville’s early community leaders. Mike is part of the McSpadden clan that included the legendary rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden. The two are longtime friends of the Mullendore family as well as supporters of Elder Care and they make it a point to come out to the Barbeque whenever they can. I know these two know their artwork and from my first glance I fell in love with the piece they had donated. Although I knew it would be way, way out of my league in terms of sales price I thought at least I got a chance to admire it for a while. But lo and behold this very striking black and white painting of Ogallala Sioux tribesman Black Eagle painted by none other than Greer Ross Dexter sold not way, way over my budget but just way over and I got it.
Museums are fun and they are some of my favorite places but owning a true piece of art that you can see every day is something special.
As far as Elder Care’s party, it was another big success. Perfect weather, a big crowd, great food and drinks and wonderful music along with a big dose of Oklahoma history, what more could you ask for? Once again, a dedicated group of hard working volunteers did an excellent job.
Till next time I’ll see ya down the road….
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