Stan comments on one of my early works when I still painted on the rectangle form. You never know what will happen when you stand vulnerable and put your painting on the dreaded critique easel. © Alicia R Peterson.
Stan Brodsky’s Dreaded Critique Easel
Stan comments on one of my early works when I still painted on the rectangle form. You never know what will happen when you stand vulnerable and put your painting on the dreaded critique easel. © Alicia R Peterson.
To know Stan is to know that Stan always had something to say about art. He was lovingly fierce in his critique of his students as he was fierce in his belief of our talents, our resolve. He had a knack of critiquing that would catalyze us to molt, to evolve.
He was also generous in his compliments. A compliment from Stan would light up our creative process. He always seemed to find at least one element that was worthy in a painting even if the overall painting needed “further work.” By the way, this translates to artists as “This work is not alive.”
Thank you to the Art League of Long Island for supporting our learning with Stan and beyond. His class, “Advanced Seminar in Painting” remains as three of Stan’s senior students are now facilitating this color, line and space filled seminar. And yes the dreaded critique easel also remains.
colleagues. I am honored to have such artistic glory and friendship from
my fellow “Stan Clan” abstract painters.
But in this one class as I put up my newest work on the dreaded critique easel, he uttered words that I had never heard before.
The painting I had proffered for critique was one I had struggled with for many months. I resolved it in a manner that did not feel “me,” but I did find it intriguing. So, I had been looking forward to what Stan would say of this painting experiment.
As he and my colleagues viewed this work, there was an eerie too-long silence. I started sweating and I no longer felt my feet on the ground. Something felt very wrong. I had a visceral urge to grab the painting and run out of the room, never to return.
Stan declared, “That painting has no hope! Just take it down [off the easel]!”
There were gasps from myself and my colleagues. And, yes, another very uncomfortable too-long silence.
I was devastated. I wanted to sob. But I caught my breath and had an epiphany.
And I became blissful in the knowledge that Stan was showing me his steadfast knowing of my talent, my resilience, and my infinite desire to leave a mark on this world.
So I laughed. And I placed my next work on the dreaded critique easel.
knowing that our feet will always land on the ground to paint another day.
Studying with Stan showed me that art was bigger than the self. That my fears of standing tall in creation diminished not only me, but the world. Art has the power to transmute.
In honor of Stan and in honor of my core desires, I declare to you: I am launching as a painter with all my might to add my power to transmute our world.
Stan’s legacy: his power to transmute through his paintings and his students lives on.
Stan was a catalyst for my creative growth and encouraged me to pursue
my investigation of the circle and oval form. © 2019 Alicia R Peterson, Floating in the Blue Cosmos.
Acrylic on 20-inch diameter convex canvas. Photographer: Peter Scheer.
Comment below. What is your equivalent of the dreaded critique easel? How do you transmute?
Honoring the creation of Long Island’s Best Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award for Young Students.
DONATIONS: https://fs22.formsite.com/heckschermuseum/og8kdzujed/index.html
A Celebration of the Life and Work of Stan Brodsky at the Heckscher Museum of Art
Reception: A Celebration of the Life and Work of Stan Brodsky
Friday, September 13, 2019, 6-8 pm
The Heckscher Museum of Arts
2 Prime Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743
631.351.3006
https://www.heckscher.org/pages.php?which_page=program_calendar
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