Turning our attention to vibrant hues
By Kristin Hoerth
Shadow Cat by Victoria Taylor-Gore.
This story was featured in the July 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art July 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
THIS MONTH we bring you our fourth annual special issue devoted to color. In the midst of challenging times, it seems fitting to focus on objects and experiences that bring us joy—and paintings that pack a vivid punch are a perfect example. This month we’re highlighting four artists for whom color is a major factor in their work. Each brings a nuanced approach to the subject.
For still-life painter Rebecca Korth, “radiant color is intended as a smile-producing gift for anyone who sees her art,” writes Gussie Fauntleroy. “I never wanted to paint anything sad or dark,” Korth adds. The bright reds, yellows, greens, and blues in her work have several distinct sources of inspiration: her father’s extensive flower garden, the songbirds that are a tribute to her mother, and the many reflective glass and porcelain vessels she’s collected.
Dan Schultz’s approach to color changed when he moved from Colorado to California, and it’s closely tied to the Golden State’s distinctive qualities of light. “California is blessed with this really atmospheric airiness,” Schultz says, and capturing that on canvas means working in a bright, high-key palette. Quite the opposite is true for Victoria Taylor-Gore, who is drawn to the dusky hues of twilight and sunset. “The atmosphere between day and night is magical,” says the artist. “The colors in the sky get very intense, and they’re a little muted on the land, except where the orange light strikes a bush or a tree in a beautiful golden-orange light.”
Finally, the landscapes of our cover artist, Margaretta Caesar, are inspired in part by the Fauves, those early 20th-century artists like André Derain and Henri Matisse known for exuberant colors and brushwork. “Everything in my world is slightly enhanced,” says Caesar. “Trees can be red and cows blue. I never feel constricted by reality when I paint. It’s through enhanced, sometimes surprising color that my landscapes come alive.”
ONE FINAL note this month: We were sorry to learn of the recent passing of two well-known artists, Oleg Stavrowsky and John Seerey-Lester. Stavrowsky was a frequent advertiser in Southwest Art in years past and was known for his energetic western paintings—colorful, loosely rendered scenes featuring cowboys and horses often engaged in action-packed adventures. Seerey-Lester was a giant in the world of wildlife art. For decades he was featured in major wildlife shows and exhibitions, and in 2019 the Society of Animal Artists presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He taught numerous workshops across the country and was active in conservation work. Both men inspired countless artists working today.
This story was featured in the July 2020 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art July 2020 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
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