“Company” by John Houseman
(2008, painting, 13.5” x 16.5”)

 

John Houseman

“Company is done in gouache (opaque water color). The three figures in the background are anonymous, while the face in the foreground is a friend.  The hat he is wearing is my design.  I’ll bet it would sell like hotcakes were somebody willing to invest in it’s production.(?)  I paint because it’s a lot of fun - it’s that simple!” – The Artist

 

 

Jan. 6, '11 (click to zoom)

What we were thinking: “We chose this piece from a local artist by the compelling nature of the figures depicted towards the bottom. The issue was published right around the time of New Year's Eve, and we all know what most youngsters like to do on New years eve. Well the characters kind of have a look on their faces as if its the morning after New Year's has just been experienced and they don't know what to do for breakfast ...

Personally. this piece works extremely well from several perspectives. First of all. I'm really all about how the front and center man in the composition is staring right at you. How you could you possibly walk past this issue gazing at you from a metal rack in a coffee shop? Another take is that anyone who has ever tried to draw/paint/digitally create a human figure knows the difficulty in making everything look normal due to the fact that humans observe other humans with great intensity. Even though we aren't aware of it many times we are very much sensitive to an image where the anatomical measurements are incorrect. The artist has executed all four figures with great skill and tha,t my friends, is why the piece hits me with great impact.

This piece was hanging in Tangled Up in Hue which is one of the many stops I make for local art in the area.” – V1 Designer Josh Smeltzer