Rat Pack News

I'd like to show you some recent work created by two of my students.
Anne Bodnar and MaryJo Burk are both extraordinary artists in their own right,
so what could I possibly have to offer them? Maybe something that would tax their patience?
How about something totally useless in the world of fine art? I racked my brain one morning
trying to come up with an appropriate subject for them, because, as they will tell you, I aim to please.

Leading up to a session with a model, I wanted to provide them with a subject that would get their creative juices flowing in the study of contours, similar to those of a human figure. A doll would've sufficed, but at 58 I don't have many lying around. I DID, however, have a gag rat doll I made for my partner some years ago. It was stuffed with the entrails of an old pillow and stitched by hand. My cats found it delicious, so the legs were kind of hanging off the hip, but then whose aren't? Rat had personality. Rat had, well, red satin button eyes and a whippy tail. How many models can claim that? So Anne and MaryJo, after scratching their heads and giving me looks as if to say, "Kiefer, maybe it's time for your medication", dove into it with all of the skills they possess. Here are the results of that session and and a few others, too. Enjoy your journey into the colorful world of roadkill and other honorable ventures.

(For other students' pix, click "What's new in the studio?" on the homepage, then click "Lessons". Thanks.)

Anne's take on it

MaryJo's

I thought both of these were terrific. Of course, they were viewing rat from two different positions in the studio. Also, Anne was standing
and MaryJo was sitting. That's why the perspective on the table is different. They weren't confined to painting colors as they existed; each selecting the palette
of their choice, incorporating "warm/cool" and "opaque/transparent" oil colors to create the illusion of dimension. They both said that they had a good time doing it. It really shows.

Scroll down for a SLIDE SHOW of the progression of each of
their rat paintings plus pix of their other sessions.
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Excellent work, both of you. What an inspiration. Thank you for your patience, humor and sense of adventure. - Kiefer