Matera, Abstraction, and How Long Does It Take

In the book "Art Students League Of New York On Painting," painter Mary Beth McKenzie offers a couple of interesting quotes.  Concerning how long it takes to learn how to paint, she quotes painter Robert Philipp, who "often said, 'The first fifty years are the hardest.'"  I can only wholeheartedly agree.

She also writes "Every good representational painting has to be a good abstract painting."  I've often said myself to anybody who would listen that all painting is abstract.

The accompanying painting is another view of Matera, Italy.  11x14 oil on panel.

Town of Stone

Matera, Italy, called the town of stone.  11x14 Oil on panel.

Matera

A view of Matera, a town in the south of Italy. 11x14 oil on panel.

Matera

A studio painting done in the last couple days while it was raining: it depicts a surreal view of Matera, a town in southern Italy.  In Matera, people lived in caves until quite recently.  When I was there I saw an exhibition of paintings by Carlo  Levi, who wrote Christ Stopped at Eboli, a book worth reading just to find out what he meant by the title.  He was a sort of an Italian Alice Neel, painting fascinating portraits that capture the sitters' personalities.  12x12 oil on panel.