Franco and I had many a conversation about the “technicalities” of paint-- the drips, smears and sub-consciously intentional “moments” of beauty and truth that only happen when you’re in a groove in this oldest of mediums. Some of the artists we studied via the “forgery” technique were wonderfully vague and precise at the same time, (like the Balthus I posted last), and this fascination with the “handwriting” of the masters led me to Cezanne for my final two projects in this series for Franco.

This is a portrait of the art dealer responsible for Cezanne’s success during his lifetime, if I remember correctly, though the historical details escape me. I just remember how much fun it was to delve into the style and try to make my modern day artists’ acrylics on paper (22″ x 30″) behave and “feel” like Cezanne’s oils on canvas.