I’ve long admired the work of Philadelphia artist Paul DuSold. He’s a painter’s painter whose style of painting is richly informed by the bravura tradition. Each stroke of the paintbrush counts and each is decisive and descriptive. Little mushing or overworking the wonderful array of correctly observed color and light shapes going on here! I not only enjoy the brushwork but also appreciate the range of his work. Known primarily as a portrait painter, DuSold appears equally ease with still-life, narrative painting and landscapes.
DuSold graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1985 and counts artist Arthur DeCosta as a major influence. He exhibits at Gross McLeaf Gallery in Philadelphia and has been an instructor and lecturer at the Woodmere Museum of Art for over twenty years. He’s created several DVD’s on painting which can be purchased directly from his website. ( I purchased Portrait Painting Fundamentals several years ago and greatly appreciated the clear and thoughtful presentation. )
STILL-LIFE, FIGURE & LANDSCAPES
His simple pairing of objects in what appear to be a shadow box are rich in color and light - compositions graphic and pleasing. The beauty of everyday objects are painted in a way that has kinship with Spanish painting. I like that he leaves well enough alone and doesn’t overwork things. In my view there are few artists who can better paint all manners of the color white.
Ferrera, 30 x 24, oil on canvas
Pelham, 16 x 22, oil on camvas
Axel, 16 x 20, oil on canvas
The large format nudes, influenced by a classical aesthetic, appear fresh and contemporary. There’s also intrigue in the way the figures seem painted from imagination, taken from other paintings, or from life. Like his still-lifes the figure arrangements are rich in color and light and painted with a sure hand.
The large format landscapes are painted with sensitivity to color, light and atmosphere. And nicely bring out the the qualities of time and place. It also seems Mr. DuSold takes on painting the greens of high summer with relish! Not easy to do, green(s) can be so overwhelming at times during high summer. And can send many a painter screaming into the woods in search of barren rocks or concrete to paint.
; - )
Aries and Aprhrodite, 46 x 72, oil on canvas
Rachel, 16 x 20, oil
Ariel, 50 x 24, oil on canvas
Juno, 32 x 36, oil on canvas
DuSold describes his work as atmospheric realism but I also see his interest in classical and impressionist traditions coming through. Manet, Sargent, and French painter Frederic Bazille come to mind. In the end, Paul DuSold is an artist who is sensitive to the nuances of color, light, and composition. His art has depth, man!
EF
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