Verisimilitude is not difficult to achieve; it’s those subtle nuances of gesture that convey emotion which are difficult (any good actor knows this). When that sought-after emotion is first achieved, artists will often continue to work on the face or the figure for a variety of formal reasons. Then, often, the whole of the expressive presence will start to “slide away,” and they can’t get it back! (all artists recognize this phenomenon). The reason it starts to "slide away" is because this is not a problem of form, it is a problem of expression. When the face or the figure has the intended expressive presence, it is to be highly valued. Successful expressive presence may cover up a multitude of formal shortcomings—but it always, always trumps success at form.
Domenic Cretara, Fred Dalkey, John Fadeff, David Fertig, Phillip Levine, Yvonne Petkus, Fred Stonehouse, Yu Ji, Peter Zokosky
Fred Stonehouse & Peter Zokosky courtesy of Koplin Del Rio Gallery, Culver City, CA
Fred Dalkey & David Fertig courtesy of Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA
