© Joan Ann Lansberry, 7-9-11
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Just what was the path that led me to the commanding visage of Stuart Davis? While at the library, I read the New Yorker article "How I learned to draw", by Adam Gopnik. There was a mention of a video with Gopnik and his art instructer Jacob Collins. I tried to find this on their website. No luck. I did find a slide show for another article which I'd read, "Walmart Meets American Art". Stuart Davis' “Still Life with Flowers” (1930) will be at the new Crystal Bridges art museum. This colorful piece, which somewhat reminded me of Calder, led me to exploring Stuart Davis' art. That's how I landed at his grayscale photo, taken in 1958. I chose bright colors, similar to what he used in his artwork. The "Go Slow" is actually part of the painting behind him in the photo, "Combination Concrete #2". Having written that, I added other words of advice. After its completion, I notice several things about this piece, which was created partially through pure observation and partially through intuitive means. The little signs in the painting behind the artist are placed at corresponding places, the 'THINK' is above the man's head, the 'SMELL' is by his nose, the 'GO SLOW' is by his heart, and the 'BE YOURSELF' is by his 'gut' region.
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