painting | Christopher Stott

From painting

Type A, Type B & Popular Etiquette

I was having a conversation with Cynthia, an art consultant at the Elliott Fouts Gallery, about one of my paintings. Apparently someone was looking at one of my unruly stacks of books and said they’d constantly be compelled to organize the books, straighten them out and make a tidy pile.

I like hearing about how different people interpret my paintings. And the idea occurred to me then to honor different personality types and how they relate to each other and can be integrated in to the same relationship, or paintings, in this case.

Type A, Type B / 20 x 36 / oil on canvas / 2010

Type B, Type A / 20 x 36 / oil on canvas / 2010

A good friend of mine brought me an old paperback re-print of a Victorian era Popular Etiquette Book. Leafing through it, I have to say that although there are definitely missing virtues in today’s world, Victorian’s really made things uncomfortable for themselves with the litany of rigid rules and guidelines to follow.

Popular Etiquette / 16 x 20 / oil on canvas / 2010

Mandolin

This mandolin (20″ x 30″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009) was made in the 1890s in Sicily by Luigi Fenga. I posted a picture of me working on this painting in April here.

In 1919 a young man named Robert McPherson was serving as a medic in the Canadian 29th Infantry Battalion during WWI. He picked up this mandolin second hand in Belgium before he returned home. In 1965, as an elderly man, Mr. McPerhson befriended a young man and his family who were renting a cabin on the same property he lived on and eventually gave them the mandolin as a gift. My connection… I know the sister-in-law to the once young man in the 60s who received the mandolin from Mr. McPherson. He was kind enough to lend me it as a subject for painting.

I’m fascinated by the lineage and connected stories objects can have. It’s easy to conjure up visions of a young soldier playing the mandolin, likely one of few momentary escapes in what would have been an unimaginable time.

I did some research and found these two photographs of the 29th Battalion. There’s no way of knowing if Mr. McPherson is in these photos or knew these fellows, but they give perspective to the time, place and atmosphere.

The Fans

Two Vintage Electric Fans 20" x 24" — Oil/Canvas — 2009 — Two Vintage Electric Fans
20″ x 24″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009

It turns out I have an interest in industrial design. And nostalgia. And strong geometric shapes. And icons and symbols found in everyday objects. The interests manifest themselves in paintings. Paintings that are done with a slight lean on old masters painting techniques with an emphasis on how that light falls on these objects. Recently that light has been the dependable light from a north-facing window in my house.

Vintage Electric Fan, Three Glasses of Water 30" x 36" — Oil/Canvas — 2009 — Vintage Electric Fan, Three Glasses of Water
30″ x 36″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009

The Bosc Pear

My muse, the pear. The perfect way to study light and color with a simply beautiful shape. These two pieces will be included in the June show.

Three Bosc Pears & Antique Book / 16 x 24 / oil on canvas / 2009

Nine Pear Huddle / 20 x 30 / oil on canvas / 2009

Story Time

This is another piece for my June show. It has pre-sold (along with 1:00, 2:00, 3:00) so I’m sharing them a little early.

Painting these books really lights my fire. I picked up the “It’s Story Time” book at an antique shop near my house. Its red cover and the simplicity of the title really are a great contrast to the heavy, dark books.

1:00, 2:00, 3:00

This is one of the paintings for my upcoming show in Sacramento, California this June. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more completed pieces.

A friend gave me a small suitcase and some old clocks, to add to my collection. Over time I’ll be continuing the series of clocks that I’ve been working on. It’s more than obvious what the next in the series will have to be.

Hunting Boots & Gladstone Bag

These hunting boots belonged to the father of a good friend of mine. They were used in the 40s and they are spectacular. I imagine it took about 15 minutes to get them laced up.

Candle Stick Phone & Electric Fan

Today a friend asked me “what’s new?” Ever sit there with a blank stare on your face when someone asks you that? That’s what I did. Then I thought about the “newness” in my life and realized that I’m focused on my work, and although that seems like nothing new to me, it’s new to the person you’re talking to. I’ve got the exhibition in June, which means I’ve got until mid-May to create some newness.

I’m sure that February, March and April will move fast. The work I’ll be doing will be larger, not going under say 20″ or 24″ in size. I’ve come to terms that this is around the size I work best in. It’s comfortable. The smaller I go, the more I struggle.

Five Bartlett Pears

This winter has been cold. Bitter cold. I know it’s been cold throughout the entire continent, but I’m sure if you were to take a look at the average temperature where I am, you’d fall into stunned silence. I should not feel like this until the end of February, not January. I guess I always have the warm colors in the pears. And radiant heat in the studio.

Three Bartlett Pears

Where did I go? It’s been a few weeks since I last posted anything. I’m busy. I’ve got an show coming up in June in Sacramento and I think that’s going to keep me very occupied for the next several months. The first half of this year is going to be insane in my studio. Insane and exciting.