Jamie Wyeth

I find the spiritual energy in Jamie Wyeth's work to be immensely moving. As one turns the pages, one enters the world of a true master, an artist who puts his entire being into each painting.Born in 1946 with a lineage of extraordinary painters, Jamie has a familial style, but his work has has a personality that is all his own. The book is categorized into six themes, each with its own special magic."Sitters": In this chapter, it states "Jamie does not paint a portrait as much as he lives it", and notes how he spends months studying his subject before the final masterpiece emerges on canvas. Perhaps his most famous painting is the portrait of John F. Kennedy, which he did after watching hundreds of hours of film of the late president. His astonishing likeness of Lincoln Kirstein is backview, with a quarter view of Kirstein's face. Four pages are devoted to Rudolph Nureyev, who many decades ago would take the same dance class with me, and would inspire me with his dedication and intensity. These pictures, especially the "Study # 25", capture the passion and determination I remember in this great dancer, better than any photograph I have seen."Shapes": Chairs, haystacks, and pipes; taking simple objects, and revealing the beauty within them."Pigs and Things": Wonderful images of pigs, barnyards, an exquisite horse, a stupendous little dog."The Deep Gorge": A close-up look into a forest, brought to life with Jamie's unique vision. Tree fungus, roots, and a marvelous "Tree Dog"."Monhegan Island": These wild and rocky Maine landscapes, with houses that look so solitary and noble."The Sea": The Maine seacoast, and the creatures that inhabit it. The final piece, "Giant Clam", has a luminosity that is breathtaking. The exquisite simplicity of this painting makes it one of the best in the book.Jamie Wyeth's work is one that should be studied by other artists, and appreciated by a large percentage of art lovers. He is an American treasure, and one of the world's greatest living masters.