Preface

Posted by Jack on June 17th, 2008 filed in About Ann

 

H.L. Mencken wrote a book about ninety years ago which he called “A Book of Prefaces”.  This was a collection of original and unsolicited prefaces to a number of major literary works.  It was quite a remarkable book since he showed that a proper preface could be as informative and provocative as the book itself.  His essays were concise and acute observations on social and political issues of the day and the book generated much comment and passion.  This little blog absolutely has no such pretensions, but, in respect to Mencken, let’s hope that in talking about Ann Walbert’s art, it may reflect some relevant (to her) social and political issues as well.  What sort of commentary on art cannot do so?  The purpose here is to comment on the artist Ann Walbert and her art, to introduce her to those who do not know her and to provide a forum for discussion of her art.  Contrary opinions, arguments, additions, corrections and outraged rebuttals are mandatory.  Please comment often and loudly.

What about Ann?  The big problem in trying to write about Ann’s painting is that her work does not fit nicely into a box.  Examine her website and you will see what she calls “atmospheric abstracts” on one hand and dreamy plein aire landscapes on another.  There are nude studies and still life paintings of flowers.  There are paintings with strong, vivid colors and also ethereal pastorals in subdued pastel hues.   Occasionally (perhaps not often enough) she uses a technique she calls “bit-by-bit”, juxtaposing strong shades and hues of color to add dimensions to her composition.  She does not have a signature look, an “Ann Walbert Brand”.  The only underlying framework is an unrestricted but disciplined palatte and adherence to the fundamentals of good drawing, architectural composition and  layer upon layer of highly crafted brushwork.  Craftsmanship and artistic judgment are her hallmarks.  

Ann is a working artist.  She paints every day.  Sometimes until late in the evening.  When she is away from her studio, she is never without a sketchbook.  Readers here will probably have read the brief biography in her website.  There is much more to tell about the girl from the apple farm in southern Illinois who moved on to the the penthouse apartment above Chicago, on again to a highly regarded position in the very special and demanding art community of Carmel and finally to a small town in the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound.  Lots of materials for blog postings down the road.  

Things you don’t know about Ann:  She is an avid reader and she plays audio-books, especially mystery stories while she paints.  She is an imaginative and skillful cook who knows food and wine.  Don’t try to fool her that your decanted Two-Buck-Chuck is a Rutherford Bench cabernet.  This is a reflection of the fact that she has a sense of smell that falls to the far right end of the human olfactory curve.  She can pick up the faint whiff of an aroma that would escape most of us mortals.   She loves to get dressed up and go out.  She loves to work in the garden.  She loves to work with hand tools.  She loves to go flying about in small planes and to go boating, exploring islands in the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia.  She loves hot tubs and walks in the woods.  These are some things you probably didn’t know about Ann.   There is a lot more.  You never know about artists.  They will surprise you.     Stay tuned.