Or why portraiture fascinates me

I don't think I have actually journaled about my fascination with portraiture - my love of the human face (and some animal faces - many have character in them as well). While I work at a regular job, processing paperwork and pushing a pencil, in my off time I paint. I have had some success with local shows and interact with local artists, but, like most artists that is the extent of my success.

When I buy comics - when I scan the sea of books available from the myriad publishers - one of the things that drags me in is a strong portrait on the cover. From that follows my love of Alex Ross, Brian Bolland and others - even Carmine Infantino and Mike Grell do character studies (mixed in with their other work) that fascinate me. Kubert's Tarzans and Sgt. Rocks - Barry W. Smith's Conans - countless others - CC Beck, HG Peter, Fred Ray. Many of these books I don't have, or I only have RAW. Some I will slab, some I hope to eventually buy slabbed, others I will never own - just because I can't afford them all (ain't that the truth!)

Outside of the realm of comics - Beardsly, Modigliani, Muscha, and Jasper Johns (ok-no portraiture there) and some of the work of Warhol fascinates me - I love some of the pop-art colors and some of that work famously comes from comics to main stream art.

Lots of heavy line work combined (in many cases) with color.

For those interested I have some stuff up on my facebook artist's page and I welcome you to look (it's a public page).

In the mean time - Happy Hunting!

http://www.facebook.com/kessler-art-works/177147268986738