subject: A Trip To The Beach With Artist Chuck Rosenthal [print this page] The artist usually paints exceptional still life paintings in oils, inspired by old masters, but touched with his own masterly touch. But equally outstanding are the pastel paintings of memorable beach scenes where the viewer can indulge himself in the painting.
In one of these pastels, tall buildings in the background are seen through an atmospheric mist of sunset over the sea, when the glaring heat of the day is vanishing. A great time to stroll on the beach. Long shadows surround the familiar beach walkers and waders - happy children, indulgent parents, and young people looking for shells.
In another pastel Mr. Rosenthal has obviously translated his masterly control of light and shadow, so evident in his still life paintings, to the beach. Dark shadows of a huge pier appear in the water near a small boy who has waded out in the sunny water to pick up something, perhaps a shell. Light pours out of the painting.
Mr. Rosenthal's statement when asked how he chooses a particular subject to paint was, "I want the viewer to be able to participate in the work, to feel that it is a place he wants to be. That is the universal impingement of a really good piece of work. I want the viewer to be able to escape for a moment into my painted world that has, in the viewer's a eyes a rightness, a balance of placement and light values that are in agreement with the viewer's own internal universe."
Indeed, the beach scenes in pastel invite the viewer in - in fact, many viewers probably have a feeling of "I've been there. I loved that beach!" Memories flow out of the paintings.
One painting this writer recognized is the Clearwater drawbridge and causeway. The original painting hangs in Clearwater, Florida City Hall, although prints of it are available. The bright sky and water against the bridge in dark blue shadow reflects the artist's mastery of contrast. Since the painting was completed a new bridge has been built.
A wintry beach scene shows warmly dressed children walking the beach and picking up shells. Waves smash into the beach. A little boy reaches for a shell. An older girl pulls her jacket tighter. Maybe you were there at that age. It's obviously not mid summer in this painting - dark blue sea and sky tell us it's cool out there.
These paintings are about people, weather, atmosphere and places where people enjoy themselves. The light and contrasts make them stand out from ordinary beach scenes. Soft and hard, smooth and rough, flowing and solid, light and dark - the contrasts make these paintings exceptional. Just as the same elements do in Mr. Rosenthal's still life paintings in oil.
by: Penny Logan
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