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The subjects
in Leonard Wren's paintings--swans at rest, ordered gardens,
bright riots of wildflowers--lead you to believe that the Tulsa,
OK painter spends most of his time peacefully surveying idyllic,
nonexistent places. But in fact, it's the everyday world that
provides Wren with inspiration.
As Wren unpacks his oils, neatly stowed in a French easel, he
repeats the ritual that has remained constant during the 20
years he has been a painter: he always works outside and directly
from life. His wooden case is outfitted with wheels, the better
to move it through airports, and his backpack is loaded and
worn. One thing it doesn't hold is a camera. "Photography
has ruined a lot of fine paintings," he says. "If
you want the truth, you have to go straight to the outdoors."
After setting up his easel, Wren works energetically, blocking
out the composition with oils. His brush stroke moves quickly
from one part of the painting to another, keeping up what he
terms a "constant dialogue" between artist and subject.
Wren sometimes finishes a painting in studio, using the time
indoors to winnow down the information on the canvas. Painting
outdoors is a sensual experience, he says, made up not only
of visual experiences but also of the sounds of birds and leaves
crunching and the feel of the breeze and the sun. "Your
eye caresses everything and you're tempted to paint everything
you see. It's taken me a long time to learn the art of subtlety.
Wren refers to himself as an "American Impressionist."
He considers the style's accessibility and popularity a plus.
"Impressionism is like the blues," Wren says. "It's
so basic that it touches you profoundly."
All Dimensions of Available Work Are UNFRAMED DIMENSIONS
Please Contact us for Original Paintings that Are Available
by This Artist. |
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