Abstract painter Brian Rutenberg is originally from South Carolina. He received his BFA from the College of Charleston, and his MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
I think you will really enjoy this conversation- Brian talks about his idea that in the big picture, art fails us, it is lifeless and incomplete. Wait— what?? When I heard Brian say that, I’ll admit I had a split second of judgment, you know, like someone had just insulted the love of my life and I needed to defend my love. But what Brian goes on to say is quite beautiful, and illustrates the role of the artist in this dance with our canvas.
Brian also shares his idea that art is part skill and part insanity. I loved diving down that rabbit hole- it brought us into skill, spontaneity and the difference between making and creating.
Then we talk about Brian’s painting rituals, his family life, and how that inspires his work.
Other Artists or Resources Mentioned
- Mary Oliver
- A personal favorite of mine- the blog Brain Pickings by the brilliant Maria Popova (This is a great interview with her if you want to go down that rabbit hole.)
- The painting Brian proposed to his wife in front of:
The Rocky Mountains, Lander’s Peak, at the MET - Agnes Martin
- Clement Greenberg
- Robert Rauschenberg
Links to Brian’s Work
Connect with Brian on:
Clear Seeing Place is available from Amazon, iTunes, Barnes&Noble.com, and all major online retailers. This book is a love letter to painting written by a painter and is a companion to Brian’s YouTube series “Brian Rutenberg Studio Visits”, which are monthly videos that give viewers around the world an intimate look into his painting life. Each episode, like the book, is packed with techniques, career advice, and personal stories all rinsed in his love of art history.
Paintings
