Artwork by Keith DelValle
I will be turning 60 years old this winter. I have lived a very exciting life traveling around the world serving in the military. During my travels, the thing I noticed the most was the diversity of art and the expression of the artist’s moods and vision in many different forms.
I am not a musician or an artist but I appreciate both. I am afflicted with a type of OCD. This makes me take on a challenge and not deviate from it until I feel I have somewhat mastered it – at least to the point where I am pleased with the results.
A few years ago, after visiting the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC I decided to try my hand at painting. Of course I could not start at an easy entry point, I had to choose the works of the Masters as my goal. With many visits to the gallery and countless hours researching and practicing techniques, I realize that this is now a passion.
My goal has been to learn as much as I can about the work of the Masters with my search leading me to the Old Masters Academy.
The free training videos provided by Ms. Richy has already affected my learning curve. My painting has changed dramatically and I am eager to learn more.
The painting I am submitting is of one of my personal friends and mentors. John is a man who grew up in the turbulent years of the 1960s and early 1970s, where he was focused on challenging the establishment and pushing for human and civil rights reform. He eventually became a Psychologist who helped form a women and children’s support program. An avid boater, I met him when his antique motor yacht was parked next to my old boat in a tiny harbor. He is a a brilliant man with a kind soul who graciously gives of himself without reservation. He is also a story teller always with a twinkle in his eye. These characteristics are what I wanted to capture in a painting. So I chose a pallet and techniques that has so often stirred my emotions and spoke to me of the inner soul of the subjects of the artwork, if not the artist who painted them. Over the course of a weekend I completed the painting. Although I wanted to work more on it, my wife took it away before I “ruined” it. It helps to have a voice of reason nearby, otherwise I would never “finish” any project.
I do not consider myself an artist, as I do not see the finished artwork in my mind as many do, I just recreate what I have learned and grudgingly give it up when my wife asks me to stop – somehow it works out on occasions. I hope by learning more of the techniques from this class and other members that I may be able to “create” more and “recreate” less, and maybe, just maybe, get to a point where I am happy enough about the finished product to declare it truly “finished” – well almost…
Gerry Haker says
Very proud of your accomplishments. Great art work and a passion for art will sustain all of us through difficult times.
PS: I’m your cousin. Your grandmother Margie Delvalle was my mom’s sister.
Z Priede says
What a beautiful portrait of the human spirit !