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Most Recent Work:
02/08/2010
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Sensu
Japan
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Sensu
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Inspirations |
San Francisco |
My wife, Starrina, and I moved to San Francisco in February 1996. Before that, we had lived in Dallas, Texas. We enjoyed Dallas well enough and still have many close friends there. But once we visited San Francisco in 1994, we knew this is where we wanted to live.
First and foremost is the weather. The area I live in, called Outer Mission, is one of the foggier spots in town. Basically, if it's foggy anywhere in the Bay Area, chances are it's foggy in my neighborhood. After growing up in Cleveland, Ohio (with its horrible winters) till I was 12, and then spending the next 15 years in the death-dealing heat of Texas, year-round temperatures hovering around 55°F is just wonderful.
Naturally, I find much inspiration for my paintings in my home town. For an artist, you couldn't ask for a more picturesque location than San Francisco. We have Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, the Marin Headlands, the Embarcadero, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown...it goes on and on. And that's just in the immediate area. A short drive north takes you to Muir Woods, south takes you to Monterey and Carmel, southeast to Yosemite. A little longer drive will take you to Lake Tahoe or south to Santa Barbara.
In case you couldn't guess, I love California.
More about San Francisco
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Japan |
My first introduction to Japan was, as far as I can recall, watching "Speed Racer" and Godzilla movies on TV. Needless to say, those are not accurate representations of one of the most elegant and dignified cultures on Earth.
When I entered my teen years I started to become a serious fan of film. Not just "movies", but the kind of fare that really qualified as Cinematic Art. While I was being educated on the likes of Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, and Federico Fellini, I one day happened to watch a little movie called "Seven Samurai". Akira Kurosawa became a great ambassador of Japan to me, and most of what I learned in a positive way came from his films: "Rashoman", "Ikiru", "Throne Of Blood", "Yojimbo", "The Hidden Fortress"...all beautiful and powerful.
Over the years I watched more and more classic Japanese films (especially the "Zatoichi" series starring Katsu Shintaro). My friend Brian, who introduced me to "Zatoichi", talked me into watching an anime that was being broadcast on Public Television called "Urusei Yatsura". I was hooked. The only other anime I had seen (besides "Speed Racer") was a horribly Americanized version of the classic series "Gatchaman" (broadcast in the US as "Battle Of The Planets").
A friend of mine, Aki Yamakawa, stayed with my wife and me for a year or so, and he furthered my education in Japanese culture. In fact, this is when I began to learn to speak Japanese. Shortly afterward, we made our first trip to Japan and fell completely in love with the people and culture. We've been back 3 times since, and are already planning our next trip. And our next trip. And our next trip...
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Paris |
My interest and love of France really grew after I moved to San Francisco. Of course, I had seen all the romantic movies of lovers strolling on the banks of the Seine at night with the City Of Lights reflecting on the water.
But moving to San Francisco really got me to appreciate the vibe of Paris. I was going to do a painting last year called "Paris Begets San Francisco", a symbolic representation of my view that Paris really gave birth to San Francisco culturally. What both cities share is a love of Art, Food, Music and Laughter. I guess that's really what is meant by 'joie de vivre', and it fits right in to my general outlook.
When I finally got to see Paris in person, I was stunned. It was like San Francisco times 100. All the things I love here were there, and more. The architecture, the food, the art, and just the general mood in the air was lovely. Seeing the Louvre was beyond words, and getting up to Giverny to tour Monet's house was surreal. Walking around his Japanese pond seeing where he painted all of his "Water Lilies" was something I will never forget.
My wife and I seriously considered moving to Paris when we came back home. Things didn't work out at that immediate time, but in the future - who knows?
More about Paris
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Prague |
I have to admit...before I visited Prague, my view of the city (and the Czech Republic) was, "Isn't that somewhere in Eastern Europe?" I sort of lumped all former Soviet nations into a vague idea of gray square buildings, concrete everywhere, faded posters of Lenin pealing off of walls, and other ridiculous, nebulous stereotypes (this is why traveling is important, kids!).
Turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. Prague is a gorgeous, elegant and lush city. When you think of the term 'old-world craftsmanship', think of Prague. Everywhere you look are exquisite and ornate buildings, statues galore, cobblestone streets, marble, gold leaf, on and on and on.
And the layout of the city is also gorgeous. The Vltava River snakes through the city, requiring numerous baroque bridges - the greatest of which being the Charles Bridge, which contains a life-size, magnificent statue every 20 feet or so.
Prague Castle alone is worth the trip. Its Golden Lane was the residence of one of Prague's most famous citizens, Franz Kafka. The subways are pristine. The streets are squeaky clean. The people are sophisticated, charming, and hospitable.
In summation, on your next European visit, include Prague in your itinerary.
More about Prague
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Oil Painting And Impressionism |
So why Jeff Starr, Oil Painter? I've been drawing and creating art since I was a little kid, trying different mediums along the way. Most five-year-olds don't work in oil, so obviously at first it was pencils, watercolors, pen and ink.
I started painting in my teens, but my impatience made me paint in acrylics. What I liked about acrylic paints had nothing to do with result - I'm ashamed to admit that the only reason I painted in acrylics was ease of cleanup and quick drying time. My OCD made me anxious to finish a painting ASAP, so I liked the idea that I could apply a second coat in a matter of hours.
In time, however, I found acrylics to be limiting. I wanted to display deep, rich colors and textures and was never really happy with the final product. In the meantime, I married an oil painter, Starrina, and was able to watch her in action. I was jealous of the rich results she achieved with her oil painting so I switched. Like any other craft, it took a while to get a handle on the techniques particular to oil paints, but 10 years later I can't imagine using any other medium.
So why Impressionism? I guess it's a combination of things. When I was a kid, I wanted to do Realism. I tried. And tried. And tried. Something was always a little off. People always said good things about my artwork, but deep inside I knew that being a Realist wasn't for me. In the meantime, my parents were introducing me to great art. We had a board game when I was about 9 called "Masterpiece". Part of the game is a deck of cards that contains famous works of art on the front and all of the vital info on the back. It proved to be very educational to me. Not only did I learn all of these wonderful works of art, but I also learned what my personal tastes were.
As we played "Masterpiece", the paintings that grabbed me were the ones by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cassatt, Matisse. I couldn't put a finger on it, but somehow the Impressionistic style clicked with me on a visceral level. When I gave up trying to be a Realist and instead painted in the style that had captivated me as a child, Impressionism was right in my wheelhouse. Suddenly I wasn't struggling with my art, it was just flowing. Now painting was a relaxing pleasure not a frustrating struggle. Ever since I started focusing on Impressionism, painting has become something I look forward to every day.
More about Oil Painting and Impressionism
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Lighthouses |
I have been enamored with lighthouses for most of my life. Hard to say what it is exactly, but I think it's a combination of things. Part of it is the old-world feel of it. It's a reminder of a less hectic time. Also, there is the architecture- the tower, the accompanying house, variations and combinations thereof...really unique and beautiful.
Most of all is the Romantic aspect. The image of the lonely lighthouse keeper, perched out there on his own (maybe even on an island), preserving the safety of strangers. It's a really cool scenario. So I guess all of these things together make me love lighthouses, and I really really enjoy painting them. I really don't think I'll ever tire of it.
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Influences |
Vincent Van Gogh |
Not only is Van Gogh my favorite painter, I would have to say that his style is the one that seems most natural to my own artistic sensibilities. My favorite paintings are those that evoke a feeling, and something about Van Gogh's work moves me more than any other. Which is funny, because it might just be an image of a field of flowers and trees, but somehow it has great energy and power to it. It reminds me of my favorite line from Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, in the song "Shot In The Arm": 'Something in my veins/Bloodier than blood'. That 'bloodier than blood' part kind of sums it up: Vincent's landscapes are Realer Than Real. Bad grammar, I know, but ee cummings would understand.
More about Vincent Van Gogh
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Claude Monet |
Among the Impressionists, Monet and Renoir were always neck-and-neck with me if I was asked about my favorite. But I have to give it to Monet because of his guts...he really paved the way for so many artists that followed. He was ridiculed at his initial Paris exhibitions but continued on undaunted. And the older he got, the more abstract his paintings became. What is also admirable is his longevity. His work done at his home in Giverny while an old man is some of his best and most famous.
More about Claude Monet
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Edward Hopper |
If you didn't know better, at first glance you might think that Hopper was European. But then you notice images in his paintings that are distinctly American. I guess that blend is one of the things that makes Edward Hopper's work resonate so strongly with me. There's no doubt that my work is deeply influenced by European artists, but I would like to think that "American-ness" adds a unique perspective to my paintings.
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Maxfield Parrish |
Stunning. Hyper-real. Dreamlike. I'm always blown away by the work of Maxfield Parrish. More than any other artist I can think of, Parrish knew the power of contrasting light and darkness. In the painting to the right, "The Lute Players", the black shadows of the trees is what allows the sky and mountains in the background seem to glow. Remove those trees and they suddenly look bland and wash out. Like Norman Rockwell, Parrish elevated illustration to the status of fine art.
More about Maxfield Parrish
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Jackson Pollock |
Jackson Pollock might seem like a strange influence on me, when you look at my paintings. But it's all about color, color, color. I purposely try to use colors straight from the tube because to me that's when they are most vivid and powerful. Of course, Pollock also used undiluted paints (from the tube, can, jar, whatever). Years ago I went to the Cleveland Museum Of Art and they were displaying several of Pollock's most famous paintings, and I was mesmerized. I must have stayed in that room for 2 hours lost within the paint. Not only did I love the colors, but the depth of the layers upon layers really pulled me in.
More about Jackson Pollock
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