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David Berry, 2002
Acrylic on canvas, 18" x 14"
Inspired by the style of John Singer Sergeant
Sometimes a painting is just a painting, something pretty to hang on the wall and raise our spirits or just remind us of the joy of living. Sergeant, considered by many to be the greatest American portrait painter of his day, was able to capture an essential character that gave some insight into the personality of those he painted. I have attempted to apply that philosophy here. Through his writing Lynn Ott reminded me of Sergeant’s quote, “A portrait is a picture in which there is something the matter with the mouth.”
My solution to the mouth problem is to only paint portraits of Meher Baba and to always make the mustache a little bigger.
For Lynn Ott the mouth of Meher Baba was more than something under a mustache, and as a true master portrait painter he used the hidden mouth
to convey the familiar expressions a lesser artist would miss. Lynn could trim and form the mustache to offer a glimpse at some part of the mouth
that would reveal the full intent of expression. I think in this way Lynn achieved the level of mastery of Sergeant, but he also brought his skills to bear on only one subject: the face of God.
By concentrating on one subject an artist explores the essential character in seemingly infinite depths. For Lynn, the essential character of his paintings is Love.
Unable to control my brushstrokes with such craftsmanship, I use the mustache to hide my own hesitations and shortcomings as an artist.
At the same time I offer a neutral expression that invites the viewer to imagine Baba’s expression and "whatever may be the matter with the mouth."
To see off-site paintings by John Singer Sargent, click here and click here.
