12 x 12 inches, oil paint on wood panel Copyright 2009, John A. Brecht, all rights reserved
No, I am not trotting out my old work. The photograph of this painting was sent to me by my sister. She noticed a similarity in my older landscapes with what I am doing now. I have not seen this piece in years. It is from the summer of 1972 -- I savour the memories of that summer. This was painted in the back yard of my parents' house of a stand of sassafras trees. I am amazed at the similarity of my marks then with now. I don't believe that is an indication of a lack of growth. Heaven knows I have worked in a wide range of techniques and media and have experienced many things through my work. I do believe one's work exists in a cycle of recurrent themes. This work attests to the possibility that marks and treatment of medium are as cyclical or as constant as a signature. My palette here is a little less reckless as the still life below, but still very similar to more recent paintings, some 37 years later.
IF I HAD NOT KNOWN WHO PAINTED THIS PAINTING, I WOULD HAVE GUESSED IT WAS VINCENT VAN GOGH. HE IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES.
Posted by: DONNA | 12/20/2009 at 06:20 PM