| Artist Kirk Witmer | ||
Click thumbnail for larger image "The Fiddler's Boots" 24" x 30" - Oil on canvas
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Many may think that oil painting is a strange thing to take up at such a late point in someone's life, but "I suppose the desire was always there from an early age". But things like education, family and career sort of got in Kirk's way. But finally, in 2008, for the first time, there was The Great Conjunction of available time and the desire to 'get at it'. Kirk did have one course in drawing and one in painting back in his college years, but those were umpty ump years ago and without time to keep in practice, he long ago lost any gains he may have made. In between times he got involved with woodworking, including pyrography on wood and gourds, bird carving and chip carving, all of which gave him an outlet for things artistic. In 2004 he took a short course in painting with Linda LaDue, but it wasn't until the end of 2007 that he took out his brushes to begin anew and he's been painting pretty steadily ever since. During that time he's studied with Michael Windberg and Phillip Wade. His inspirations come from many sources, but for the most part he's been sticking with the Western genre. Kirk enjoys taking bits and pieces from various places and combining them into his works. So for now, he mainly works from photos, and stays in his studio. He says he's tried the "plein air" route, and while it may be just the thing for others, for now he prefers not being distracted by the elements like wind and insects and the heat of central Texas. And besides, cowboys and horses won't pose for very long so he'd end up painting from photos anyway. Lately, Kirk has become interested in the "Painting-a-Day" concept. He says "It takes a lot of discipline not to let the day to day events in your life take you away for your easel, but doing a painting every day will certainly make you a much more experienced artist in a much shorter time. We'll see if I can stand the pace. Maybe I'll just be a "Five-a-Week" painter!" Kirk has been very much influenced by the trompe l'leil style of painting and admires the work of many photo-realistic painters from the late Henry Farny and late Frank McCarthy to James Bama and Tim Cox. He says "I know that, as a craftsman, I'm not there yet, but that's where I'm aiming."
the artist's statement________________________________________________________________________________________
I don't see that as a part of my job as an artist. What viewers think about my art is their right. What emotions they have are their responsibility. I believe that when an artist hangs a painting, a bargain has just been struck between the artist and the viewer. As an artist, my responsibility is to craft (yes that's right, I said "craft") an image that is as realistic and true to life as my eye and hand can create it. I could expect no higher compliment than for a viewer to look at my painting and think 'Oh, that's gotta be a photograph!' When my 'artistry' (read 'craftmanship') has taken a viewer to that point, then I can feel that I have lived up to my end of the bargain and mastered my obligation in our relationship. The viewer's only responsibility is to appreciate my craftsmanship." Visit Kirk's website at: www.kirkwitmer.com Email Kirk at: khwitmer@juno.com
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Disclaimer: All artworks contained within the Williamson County Art Guild website are Copyright Protected by the respective artists. These images may not be downloaded, copied, linked to, or edited in any manner for any purpose. |
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At the beginning of 2006, Kirk Witmer became a transplant from southeast Pennsylvania to central Texas, Liberty Hill to be exact. Too many cold winters had driven him to a warmer climate.