"Man and Wife"

9 x 12"

oil on panel
sold

My new painting features the iconic portrait American Gothic by one of my favorite painters, Grant Wood, in the Art Institute of Chicago

The viewer usually assumes the couple in the painting is man and wife although it was meant to depict a farmer and his spinster daughter.  The models were Wood's sister, Nan, and his dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby, both Iowans.

Fun facts about American Gothic ~

~ It was an instant success, entered into the 1930 exhibition at the Art Institute and purchased by the museum.

~ The little, white cottage still stands in Eldon, Iowa.  I've been there.  The second floor window is 'carpenter gothic' style, which Wood found pretentious for such a humble home.

~ The dentist, Byron McKeeby, felt obligated to pose for Wood as he was a worthy patient who enjoyed sugar on most everything.  Even lettuce.

~ Both models and the house were all painted in separate sessions.

~ Iowans weren't thrilled with how they were portrayed to the world, as this wasn't how they saw themselves. One farm wife was so mad, she threatened to bite Wood's ear off.  Wood insisted he was a loyal Iowan and meant no offense, only a homage.

~ The artist's signature is hidden in the farmer's overalls.

The importance of American Gothic is, in Wood's own words, to celebrate the nation's fortitude and spirit during tough times.  It brought rise to Regionalism, or American Scene painting, making fellow artists like Thomas Hart Benton and John Curry and Grant Wood famous.  Personally speaking, all three of these painters are favorites of mine.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Me Time" Show

Okay.

I'm going to plug the show one more time before the opening Friday night at Robert Lange Studios in Charleston SC.

All were delivered and hung today.  Those legs are not mine.

And here are the paintings in the show....

Aromatherapy

6-3/4 x 16" 
sold

Moms

12 x 12"
sold

Good Weed

9 x 12"

sold 

Folksy

9 x 12"

sold

Wayne's World

20 x 11"
sold

A World of Her Own

8 x 10"

sold

Laze Fare

9 x 12"
sold

Front Seats

9 x 14"
sold

Women of Color

9 x 12"

sold

In the California Sun

9 x 12"
sold

Two For One

7-3/4 x 16"

sold

World Domination

12 x 14"
sold

I See a Pattern Here

12 x 12"
sold

It's Not Always Black and White

16 x 16"

sold

Room Mates

10 x 10"

sold

For larger views on each painting, go to the gallery's page and click on the image.

Hope to see you on Friday night ~   Karin J.

"Gentleman Farmer"

6 x 8"

oil on panel
sold

Everyone knows this iconic painting.  People from all over the world recognize the farming couple. If you observe people in the Art Institute of Chicago, when they see Grant Wood's American Gothic, they immediately stop to look closely. 

Truth be told, the man and woman were models for Grant Wood's vision of 'the kind of people I fancied should live in that house'.  The woman was Wood's sister and the man, their dentist.  The house still stands in Eldon, Iowa - I've seen it myself.  We took a road trip along the Grant Wood Scenic Byway several years ago - a most splendid drive through rolling hills, all too familiar in Wood's paintings.

Grant Wood is in my top-10 favorites list of artists.  I have books of his work dating back to the 70's.  I have a love affair with the Regionalism artists - referred to as American Scene painting done from the 20's thru the 50's.  Thomas Hart Benton, John Curry, Grant Wood are the most recognizable of that art movement.  It is said that their depictions of rural life in the American heartland made people feel better during the Great Depression - specifically American Gothic came to be seen as a depiction of steadfast American pioneer spirit.

Wood entered his painting in a competition at the Art Institute of Chicago and although the judges poo-pooed it, a patron convinced them to award it with a medal, a cash prize and persuaded the museum to buy the painting, where it is today.

"A Casual Look"

9 x 12'

oil on panel
sold

Brand-new, hot of the easel, a woman looks closely at Grant Wood's iconic 'American Gothic' in the Art Institute of Chicago.

"Raspberry Beret"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

I have a cold.  I felt like painting, despite my fuzzy brain, but it had to be loose.  And really, this is how I really love to paint with oils.  Loose, quick and done by the end of the day.  The title came to me from a Prince song I haven't heard in a long time.

From the Art Institute of Chicago, a young woman stands before Grant Wood's iconic painting 'American Gothic'.

~ Happy Easter

"Back to the Future"

9 x 12"

sold

Painting people viewing art is a favorite theme of mine, noticeably, and there's a couple reasons why - the opportunity to continue painting humans of all sizes, heights, races, ages, in a still moment is first and foremost - the reproducing of paintings that span decades is not only big fun, it teaches me a lot about color, composition and techniques - and once in a while, I happen on a perfect marriage of personalities with the featured art - like this young couple in front of the very iconic, most-recognized painting in the Art Institute - "American Gothic" by Grant Wood.

Please click here for a larger view.

"A Stretch"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

A woman taking one more look at the iconic painting by Grant Wood, "American Gothic", which hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

"Coupling"

8 x 10"

oil on masonite

sold

I overheard this woman asking a guard to direct her and her husband to the American Art galleries in the museum, so I offered to lead the way. They were a really sweet couple - from Harrisburg, I think. I caught a glimpse of them in front of Grant Wood's "American Gothic", standing still and reserved, while listening to their headphones - and it just seemed so right.

Please click here for a larger view.