Another Light -- A Retrospective Richard Whitehead May 7 – May 30, 2015 Reception: May 8, 5-8pm
"Ci Ritroviamo," mixed media, 2008, 48" x 54".
When I walked into the Carmel Art Institute for the first time in 1976, I was struck by the smell of oil paint and the disorderly arrangement of easels spread about a large studio. Across the room were four great arched windowns revealing below a view through treetops into the ultra blue bay of Carmel. There was a tangible feeling of creativity in the air; I felt at home. I began by learning to draw and then by practicing a variety of painting techniques. I have painted continuously for the past 40 years.
I love landscape and figure painting. I imagined a kind of painting that would expose the artist as much as the landscape. As I progressed I became aware that creating art is an internal process. The subject is brought to light by the introspection of the artist. Eventually I became more interested in portraying what I was thinking over what I was seeing. Where does our reality lie? I travelled the path from pictorial representation to conceptual creation. At last I added poetry to my repertoire.
This retrospective represents the work I have done since first stepping into that quaint atelier in Carmel many years ago. I have been guided by an intuition that informs my artistic vision. This intuitive light has given my imagination endless inspiration to create art. Art is our means of speaking directly to each other. As individuals we find joy in that which provokes common understanding and it oftem seems as if the whole reason for our being is to entertain each other with interesting ideas. I hope you will find me in this artwork and discover that there is ample room for you there as well.
Richard Whitehead Born 1946, Madera, CA
"Orange Sea," acrylic, 2000, 40" x 52".
"Madonna Delle Arte," mixed media, 2002, 48" x 42”.