Untitled 1961

This untitled piece by Theophilus Brown is slathered in gorgeous oil paint. It shows a figure in a chair, but what strikes me is the juicy application of color. The colors are not really descriptive. They feel emotional, like the way we perceive the world through feelings. Look at the way Brown uses quick brushstrokes of dark green to build the background. They create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Then, notice how the figure is rendered in shades of pink, brown, and purple. It’s like he’s not just painting what he sees, but how he feels about what he sees. The way the paint is applied, thick and gestural, tells you so much about the artist’s process. It's like a conversation between Brown and the canvas. It reminds me of some of Fairfield Porter’s casual figuration. It's the kind of painting that makes you want to pick up a brush and start slinging paint around yourself! Art is never a finished deal, it’s an ongoing experiment.