Chuck
Close is an American contemporary artist, who uses photography and painting to
achieve photorealism. His portraits are massive-scaled (shown in row 3, right)
and are high-focused as well. Close uses complex patterns in his artwork. His portraits are very real looking. He uses
many different painting and drawing techniques. Some painting and drawing
techniques he’s perfected are graphite, watercolor, finger painting, ink, and
stamp-pad ink on paper. He also because a pro at printmaking techniques, such
as, Polaroid photographs, etching and woodcuts. Close says that in 1967 he made
a choice to throw all his tools away and start making art that he had no
competence with. He works from a gridded photograph. One stroke after another
he puts together a work of art. He uses both multi-colors and gray scale. He
has a systematic way of working, where he starts from the left hand corner of
the canvas. I am intrigued by how life-like his portraits are. It is amazing
once you realize that they aren’t photographs, they’re actually painting and
drawings. The shadows and shading on the pictures in the second row, of the
African American woman and man depicted in multi-colors, is incredible. It
shows the oils and glare on their faces as if it were actual skin. The picture
on the left of the third show is very detailed. It shows hairs that were out of
place and some imperfections on her cheeks. It is amazing how tiny details
bring these pictures to life even more. Not only does Close achieve
photorealism but he also uses glass to make portraits as well. The backgrounds
of his pictures are very plain, mostly one color, which helps the details of
the person stand out more. The two pictures in the last row are an example of
his later work. He uses a grid that is had roughly executed regions of colors.
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