Most of you know how nutty I am about portraits. I love the human
face and for some reason, I am especially drawn to portraits of men
and boys. Browsing the Scott's Antique Show at the Franklin County
Fair Grounds, in Columbus, Ohio is one of my favorite things to do
on a grey and bleak winter Saturday. There are usually over 800
exhibitors in this show that is open once month, November through
March. I found this great painting when I went last month, just
before Christmas, and it is currently a hot item at the Manor. I'm
crazy about it! It's by a local artist, now deceased, Richard S. Wagner
(middle initial "S", not to be confused with the great composer) and
is dated 1979. The colors and big brush strokes are wonderful. The
charming exhibitor, who sold it to me, was kind enough to let me
chose two of Wagner's drawings to take along with me for free! One
of them, below, is titled, "Riding on the Grasping Arm, Looking Back
at an Angel".
A very good painting. For some reason it makes me think of a french officer at about the time of Zola and Dreyfuss.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a good buy.
Wow! They are both beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the human face which might be why I'm so awful at taking portrait photos. do you think?
Happy Sunday. Enjoy your tea!
At first view he looked like a Chinese National WWI, but I too love to buy oils of face studies, they always sell right away in the shop. To me it's the style of art that the artist exudes, each with their own views of the human face. I would've snatched it up too, lucky on the freebies too!
ReplyDeleteThat's a fine painting, Willow. I like the fact that it has an abstract quality to it. The colours would match my decor as well.
ReplyDeleteWe have two oil paintings from the early 60s that we came upon in a local thrift store. It was about a year later we learned that the artist has work housed in our local gallery as well as a huge mural in our city library! They are our favourite paintings - not because of the monetary value, but because of their value to us.
Kat
How generous of the dealer! And lucky for you to now own two different styles of art from the same artist.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a certain spot in the Manor where you display your found portraits?
I love stopping by for my culture quotient to go up. Thanks for the glimpses.
ReplyDeleteOh I just found your blog and I love it.
ReplyDeleteJust had to say hello :)
Willow,
ReplyDeleteYou are making me homesick for the Manor. I love this portrait. Artists of this nature allow their subject to take on a whole new character. A great find and a bonus tahboot!
The Bach
What a wonderful find! I truly love this portrait and would have snapped it up if I could afford it...love the abstract aspect as well as the colors...Love the drawing also...Scott's Antique Show must be fabulous..
ReplyDeleteI too like portraits willow. There is a fascination in looking into a face and wondering what kind of person he or she is.
ReplyDeleteSome years ago I saw the Hans Holbein portrait of Henry VIII in Madrid - I found looking at the original so exciting (I have seen it so many times in books) - there is nothing like coming face to face with the actual painted surface, is there?
Hi, I love your site and want to give the Lemonade award for site with best gratitude and/or attitude! For more, check out my blog at http://thisismylife-kat.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteoh Willow, I can see why this is a hot item at the Manor right now - this is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting portrait, I must agree with Eveningson it reminds me of the Third French Republic. The yellows, topes and beiges are exquisite. What a find!
ReplyDeleteWillow, you are truly a lucky ducky!!!! I love the big blocks of color that give shape to the face. What a wonderful find.
ReplyDeleteI must say that I like the top portrait a lot too.
ReplyDeleteHello Willow,
ReplyDeleteI'm with the French contingent! Though the face does have an oriental look. The drawing I'm not so mad for - but it takes all sorts!
Hi Willow-
ReplyDeleteI love this portrait, the earthy colors and style... it's beautiful. Makes me think of Cezanne. What a departure the drawing is - how lovely he let you chose a drawing!! Do you know any more info about the artist? Thanks for sharing him!
~Brenda
Nice to see he was not stuck on one way to see things in his art ; )
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is a portrait painter and have learned a lot from him. I have a new appreciation of portraits these days. He gives workshops and my daughter attended one (she paints) but I just look on and wonder! Thanks for all the visits. I am going to do your interview this week. I see you have 752 followers and I shall have to think of another new award to giv e you for Most Distinguished Service to Bloggyworld from the Royal/Republican Order of World Bloggers !
ReplyDeleteWhat a witty drawing!
ReplyDeleteHow do you post the reading/eating/listening etc?
Do you have to redo whole thing each day or just the content?
Beyond, beyond FREEZING here.......
Faces are endlessly interesting, aren't they? He looks like a young Confederate soldier to me . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm just finishing Strapless; which makes me think of you. Also saw Valkyrie, which makes me think of you. And listening to Wagner right now -- which makes me think of you!
Well done...
ReplyDeleteWe'll give the others till Sunday.
A.F.
Very nice painting. Now, you need to go onto antiques roadshow with it and find out you are a millionaire.
ReplyDeleteThere is something special about having original art. The detail, and the unique nature of the piece, being one of a kind, feels like a gift.
ReplyDeleteOh willow this is magnificent! Such a handsome soldier... as a painter currently painting portraits I am loving the large patches of color, bold strokes and stylized manner. The sketch almost reminds me of Picasso, and the yet the painting is more impressionistic. All in all I can definitely see why this is so HOT at the manor:) You have great taste!
ReplyDeleteThankyou for introducing me to Dorianne Laux. I read four of her poems from Smoke, on the internet, but there were spelling mistakes(!) so I shall try to find a copy of one of her books when I'm next in town. Which would you recommend? The one you are reading now?
ReplyDeleteI never studied American poetry, so when I read it now, it feels like a fresh new world of words opening up.
The portrait looks to me like a Chinese soldier, but perhaps that's because I am immersed in 'Wild Swans'? My mother is a portraitist, my profile picture is one of her portraits.
I'm partial to watercolors. But that painting is fascinating!
ReplyDeleteGood find!
This portrait is just great! I like the one white wall and then the yellow ochre wall very close to the colors in his face...masterful! The hat and jacket are from another time?! You found a find!
ReplyDeleteGreat paintings! What a nice way to spend the day.
ReplyDeleteLove the paintings. Wishing you a Happy New Year of the Ox!
ReplyDeleteI loved both the commentary and the painting. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Yes, i can see why you love it. Love the thick paint strokes. your walls i imaigine must be filled with real art. How nice. don't see that too often here, or when it is, it's awful Bob Ross styled stuff. All easy technique with no real eye to the finer aesthetics and such.
ReplyDeleteLovely art work, Willow, as always.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a wonderful piece of art!
ReplyDeleteSuch an expressive portrait, with very intense eyes. I really like it. And the drawing is so playful!
ReplyDeleteIs he supposed to be a Confederate soldier? I love it, too--rich brush work. And how delightful is that drawing!? Yum.
ReplyDelete