Now that there are 8 new Amy Crehore paintings to look at, I’m having a feast!

Wish the Blab! Show did not display paintings in a Pop Up window as those are much less search friendly; glad she also posts some of them on her own blog.  One of the things that’s cool about the Mini-Monkeys is the way Amy Crehore signed her name (it’s just “C.”).  Amy Crehore’s monkey paintings are so distinct that no one else could paint them.

 

The thing that reels me in - I can “feel” the painting. 

I’ve had that ability most of my life but did not know what it was.  Certain artists just touch me ….. I feel their feeling.  I feel that way when I look at Manet’s paintings.    I also have a similar (but not exact) feeling when I look at Amy Crehore’s paintings.  A lot of “soul” goes into her work.  I won’t say every painting is a masterpiece - no one can paint a masterpiece all the time - but some artists can paint at a certain level most of the time and Amy does that.

As a composition, take any area of this painting and look at it and you’ll see all sorts of decisions she made - and, and if you tuned in, the feeling and care that went into it.

Another thing that is her own way of composing….she makes the monkey’s legs almost human - both as a symbol AND as  compositional balance - she needs those changes in color and tone to make it all work - you can look at all the different levels she’s working on at the same time in one painting.

Let’s just say there’s a lot of “heart” in these paintings and I can ”feel” it in every brushstoke -  care and love that went into the work - just the way I feel Manet’s feelings when I look at one of my favorite paintings - Woman with a Parrot.