**NOTES FROM THE DOCUMENTARY** excuse the length, i didnt know what all i would personally need. wanted to make a confrontational image. suck the viewer right up to it. everything made is from photographs. works on minute details in one specific area first. first official portrait in 1968. created a grid to create each individual square at a time. grew up during wartime where there werent many supplies for things. had a desire to create art since he was a child. father met a woman who was an artist and used her to teach chuck. from there, he was being taught. was a lousy student in high school, and used painting and his art for extra credit. was very close to his father, and his death was a heavy impact to him. describes his art as "painstakingly putting his image back together". Willen de Kooning was a huge inspiration to Chuck, to the point where he felt that he was a weak interpretation of de Kooning. moved to New York in Fall of 1967, and used limitations to keep his art from being associated with de Kooning, such as painting using only black and white paint. he enjoyed the uniqueness of each individual that he used for his portraits, as if they were bringing their whole lives and actions on their face. he is personally mystified at the idea of taking paint, drawing on a canvas, and finishing his painting, to show a full face of someone he had photographed prior. made portraits with no form of special edits or dramatization, and made everything as simple and natural as possible. suffered what appears to have been a stroke later in his life, confining him to a wheelchair.
I had the privilege of seeing Mr. Close speak in Houston during Art School... Never been so inspired by a man and his work as I was that day. Have and will always love his work, which, now that I think about it, has had a tremendous influence on my own art.
I'm so amazed by the great artist I'm watching it's the first time I'm getting to know him l think from now on I'm going keep track of you(him) your so inspirational and a fighter on this time. I'm glad you took the time to show us who and how you are thanks
I’ve met Chuck a number of times and I think he would approve this documentary. He is such an articulate story teller. I was sad his recent show was canceled due to the politics of the times. He once was a very successful fundraiser of the DNC.
L.A. Artist I live and breathe art I picked up a paint brush 2yrs ago and fell in love I consider myself an eclectic abstract artist I'm looking for someone who will mentor me and guide in the right direction I've found my groove
Really nice documentary... There only seems to be a problem with the sound, because when you try to listen to it with headphones, no sound is coming from the right...
This is really a revelation for me. My father died when I was about 6 and I was with his corpse alone for about 8 or 9 hours. I am now already bitter at the world at the age of 15 even though I have no right
Hello... this is a survey, answer these questions, please. It is for a tribute to the beloved Chuch Close. 1- What is his family background? 2- What inspired him to become an artist? What experiences helped him define that? 3- How did he start his career as an artist? 4- How did he define what he would be focusing on as his art theme/concept? 5- What was his method? How did it change through time? 6- What do you admire about him the most? 7- Which of his artworks is your favorite? Perhaps choose one whose style you would like to imitate for your next portrait. Post a picture here.
Wow. I still don't understand his method. As he said, he obviously knows what each set of colours look like from a distance, but how does he translate the colours from the photo using the grid? They don't seem to be accurate representations of the colour in the photo grid...but maybe they are. He is so talented and has created a workable life ... wish I had his strength!
I am an art educator. I would like to be able to share this video as an extended learning opportunity (independent student assignment) for my students who would like to learn more about Chuck Close. Is there a way for you to make a "clean version" copy of this video by eliminating from 16:10 to16:30?
