Monday, March 8, 2010

Some Stapisms

Above is a Carl Peters painting. Carl was from Rochester, New York but summered in Rockport Ma.

I am home and very tired. I can't write much but perhaps I can give you a few phrases that I use with my friends.

There are three stages in the completion of a Stapleton Kearns painting.
  • I'm almost done!
  • Boy, I sure hope I'm doing this right.
  • This was going to be really good, not like you think either, I mean really good!
I often say; If I were going to be really good at this,
I would already be really good at this.

This is a STUPID way to make a living.

I had to lay down to paint that!

He paints like Ray Charles!

Whats the deal with Alex Katz anyway?

Its so hard painting outside it's a wonder anybody ever gets a painting.

I'm really not smart enough to be doing this!

I get way too hung up on what the paintings actually look like!

I thought I would put this, right in the middle of the painting.

When I die I am going to have all of my unsold paintings encased in Lucite and use them as a tombstone.

My epitaph is going to be;
STAPLETON KEARNS
HE WAS OK.

Girls LOVED me when I was young,
they imagined I was sensitive.

I am planning on getting a tattoo on my forehead that says IMAGINE HAIR.

Mistakes have been made. (Ronald Reagan)

I left high school early to more fully participate in the 1960's

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you once again, for your participation in this evenings activities.

22 comments:

billspaintingmn said...

You're ok Stape!

Philip Koch said...

The younger I get, the more traveling takes it out of me too.

The other big thing for me too is: "What's the deal with Alex Katz?"

Susan McCullough said...

Stape- you make me laugh!

DennyHollandStudio said...

Your post is way more entertaining than the Oscars!

mariandioguardi.com said...

Well guys, as you know I'm not shy about jumping in bringing up the other side. Usually because I'm on the other side's thinking. So let me put in my black dentures with fangs and get to it. Here goes a little dose of controversy for the morning.

I think you have to look at Alex Katz work in terms of figurative/portraiture work (not landscape). If a graphic sensibility (flat)is not your thing, his work will leave you cold. But for someone like me (how's that for couching the subjective) who is into design, color and representational minimalism his images are startling strong in their simplicity.I marvel at reductionism.

Unfortunately, I don't think Alex Katz self edits enough so there are some very NOT good Alex Katz's out there. I heard him interviewed at the Boston Museum of Fine Art. And he is a very serious painter and a more internal painter than you would imagine as those images are very personal (which may answer the question of being unable to self edit enough).He sort of wonders at his own "popularity". He came across as humble and he is probably asks himself the same question;"What's the deal with Alex Katz".

Robert J. Simone said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Robert J. Simone said...

Ever read any of Daniel J. Boorstin's books? I suggest "The Image: A guide to Pseudo Events in America". That should shed some light on the Katz's of the world....and a lot of other,"what's the deal with...?" stuff.

By the way, Stape, the snowboarding was awesome!!! All limbs and other body parts still in tact!!

willek said...

Stage two ( Boy, I sure hope I'm doing this right.) sums up my whole life, to now. .. and after looking at a page or two of Alex Katz images and reading Marian's comment, I guess it sums up Alex's take on his own art, too. Hmmmm.

Great to have you back in the traces, Stape.

Tim Fitzgerald said...

Hi Stape
One of my "ism's" is That's sure not How I imagined it would turn out"
I have allot of that one actually.

Gregory Becker said...

LOL you have such a good sense of humor.
My tombstone will read, "I told you I was sick."
I heard that somewhere before.

Carol Nelson said...

HE WAS OK
HE WAS NOT ALEX KATZ

Stapleton Kearns said...

Bill;
Yathink?
.....Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Philip:
I just love to travel though.I like to take my paint box and go for a car ride.
........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Susan:
Thank you. I am glad you laughed, sometimes I wonder if anybody getsa the stuff I say. Live, some do, and some don't.
...........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Denny:
Oh my God! Now I've missed the Oscars.
........Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Marian:
I am so relieved to know he's alright.
..............Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Simone;
I wopul;d like to read that but my reading list is so long. I will put it on there and hope someday to get too it. I am reading Gibbon now.
..............Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Willek:
False Alarm! evidently he is OK.
................Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Tim;
I know that feeling. Did you wattch the Oscars?who won, it was Avatar of course? It wasn't some movie I never even heard of was it?
..............Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Gregory:
Thank you. You are too young to be planning your epitaph.
...............Stape

Stapleton Kearns said...

Carol:
I think if I use Alex Katzes name on my tombstone I will get sued.
.............Stape

sharprm said...

I liked the "He paints like Ray Charles!" and "imagine hair" jokes.