Danse suite-
A suite of paintings based around the subject of dance. I find inspiration in the fluid movement of the human figure. My models are professional dancers - beautiful and hard working artists.
danse drawings.............. Charcoal on Paper, 26" x 19"
Featured on Cover
of America Artist
Other Figure Paintings
'The red
Shawl', o/c, 36x26", 2004 - no longer available (sold in France)
'The white dress', oil/linen, 30x24", 2004.
'Chanson de Loctudy', oil/linen, 44x32", 2004
'Garden Sisters', oil/linen, 40x30", 2004
The Parthenon Museum, Nashville, Tennessee, USA - Gerald Morgan one-man show 1998
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Drawing
Drawing is fundamental to my art. Lots of drawing is very important, I believe. But I should point out that I really enjoy drawing. While I've long worked with the figure in a general sense, in recent years I have focused my drawing efforts by exploring the subject of 'dance'. It has become my habit to explore this subject regularly doing at least one drawing a week with an occasional oil painting on the subject. My working method is basic: charcoal on toned Fabriano (Italian) paper and white highlighting. Occasionally I work with pastels, but I love the basic, simple elemental use of black charcoal. Also toned paper allows me to add freshness and zest to my drawing style.
My drawings were featured in American Artist magazine in the November 2004 issue with an article by Editor Stephen Doherty. Additionally, one of my dancer images was shown on the cover.
I admire the great masters of draftsmanship and study them were I find them. As an example, a few years ago I was impressed to find a small study by Domenico Tiepolo at the Musee des Beaux Arts, in Quimper, France. What a powerful and wonderful little image!
A few other great draftsman that speak to me are: Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, Theodore Gericault, Isabel Bishop and Edgar Degas (not by any means a complete list). Through my drawings I find dance to be a wonderfully complex subject, endlessly challenging and providing a much needed contrast and complement to my oil paintings.
Gerald Morgan