Deloss McGraw

Deloss McGraw Pulitzer is an artist and poet from Oklahoma. His works are a mixture of jolly circus motifs and almost nightmarish childhood imagery. He is known for his illustrations for children's books and he has shown in over 80 galleries across the US. In 1976, McGraw had his first collaboration with another poet when he created mixed-media paintings that responded to the stories of Pulitzer Prize-winner W.D. Snodgrass. They became mail buddies and McGraw continues these strange relationships to this day.
I am less interested this sort of poetry but am more drawn to the luminescence that pushes from within his paintings.
McGraw's unique sense of light can be attributed to his use of watercolor. He works often in mixed media and collage as well.
When admiring the circus themes and child realms, I cannot help but think of the compositions of John Grillo or Marc Chagall.
The discovery of another artist goes again to my girlfriend Meaghan. THANKS MEAGHAN!

Party Tricks
Watercolor, 22 x 29.9 in.

My Name is Stephen Dedalus, 2004
Gouache on Paper, 19.5 x 26 Inches

The spacial occupation in McgGraw's vertical pieces is certainly addressed well. Another artist who comes to mind when painting exaggerated verticals is R.B. Kitaj. The animal-human hybrids identified with their props and youthful celebration remind me of Joan Brown's late paintings.

Sleeping Beauty
Watercolor on Paper, 22 x 29 inches

Musician (left), Watercolor on Paper, 10 x 8 inches
Musician (right), Watercolor on Paper, 10 x 8 inches

Red Cat
Watercolor on Paper, 22 X 30 inches

Chekov Study
Watercolor on Paper, 22 x 30 inches

Infatuation Depreciating, 2002
Gouache on Paper, 8 X 10 inches

Sidney Nolan

Meaghan found this Australian artist. Apparently I am the last person on the earth to hear about his work. I enjoy how the paint is applied in layers that emit a sort of light. I enjoy the arrival of his landscapes. His portraits remind me of Francis Bacon. The end.

Antarctica (11), 1964
Oil on Board, 121.9 X 121.9cm

Antarctica, 1964
Oil on Board, 121.9 X 121.9 cm

Figure, 1967
Oil on Card Paper, 30.5 x 25.5cm

Baboon

Miner and Dog, 1973
76 x 76 cm

Self Portrait in Youth, 1986
Spray Enamel on Canvas

Riverbend 11, 1965–1966,
(one of nine panels), Oil on canvas

Picasso & Co.

Meaghan and I recently made a weekend out of NYC. We moseyed into the MOMA to see two shows: "Picasso: Themes and Variations" and "The Modern Myth: Drawing Mythologies in Modern Times".

Picasso: Themes and Variations
March 28–August 30, 2010
Curated by Deborah Wye


"Ecce Homo," After Rembrandt from Suite 156
Etching and aquatint, plate: 19 1/2 x 16 1/8"

Upon entering the Paul J. Sachs Gallery on the second floor, it was apparent that the works on display represented decades of experimentation. Picasso is prolific to the point that one assumes he came from a lineage of lobsters. To see him sketch out new compositions on already complete works shows either a disregard for the pristine or uncontainable excitement. It actually turned out that while he was sharing print basements he was running out of surfaces on which to print and sketch. Printmakers were at first surprised that a newcomer to printmaking was using his own methods that yielded success.


Armchair Woman No. 1, state VIII & XI. Lithograph,
composition: 27 3/8 x 20 1/2"

Seeing his progression within a series is an enlightenment to how a painter can benefit from the physicality of lithography. Picasso claimed that in a painting his movement of thought would be covered as a composition progressed. In printmaking his movement could be documented by printing every state. In this sense, there is no longer the secret life of a painting.

The Modern Myth: Drawing Mythologies in Modern Times
March 10–September 6, 2010
Curated by Geaninne Gutiérrez-Guimarães & Luis Pérez-Oramas

Mark Rothko. Archaic Idol. 1945. Ink & gouache on paper, 21 7/8 x 30"

This show on the third floor includes works from 1797 to 2007 that explore motifs of classical mythology. Many of the works are on paper and there are some strange mixed media pieces as well. Among the artists represented are Matthew Barney, Joseph Beuys, Paul Cézanne, Enrique Chagoya, Salvador Dalí, Marcel Duchamp, Willem de Kooning, Juan Downey, Max Ernst, Adolph Gottlieb, Arshile Gorky, Wifredo Lam, Matta, Ana Mendieta, Wangechi Mutu, Pablo Picasso, Richard Prince, Jackson Pollock, Odilon Redon, Mark Rothko, Jim Shaw, and Andy Warhol.

Spiced Life and Painting

My name is Richard Dolan. In the year 2009 I graduated from Montserrat College of Art with a BFA in Painting. I am a painter of animals, people, and bullshit. You can view my artwork at my website.

I recommend introducing yourself to the works of my girlfriend Meaghan Sorce as well. You can also view the websites of my friends who also graduated from MCA.
We were understudies of artists Thorpe Feidt and Tim Harney. They are two Massachusetts artists who are hard to research online because they are often busy teaching and moving paint around.

Tim Harney curated a show called "Belief in Paint" in 2007 and there is a funny interview of him in the Boston Globe. The show, at the New Art Center in Newton, MA, featured the works of Thorpe Feidt, John Grillo, and Richard Lethem. He speaks of a kind of painting which I enjoy for its honesty and aesthetic. The show was long ago but the content is universal. You can contact me if you can't locate it online.

Thorpe Feidt


Tim Harney

Tada!