That curious feeling when you’ve looked at something so closely, it begins to seem unreal…
Is that part of what makes the paintings of Nick Ward so intriguing? The lush palettes almost exacerbate the subjects’ flaws – or is it the flaws that accentuate their beauty? The paintings are so detailed as to be almost surreal, and yet in the surreal, something of the subjects’ nature is revealed.
Last year, Nick was kind enough to contribute to an ArtSake post about best practices when doing an Open Studios, in which we featured his striking portrait of “Margeaux,” seen below.
Now he has a solo show at Distillery Gallery in South Boston. He says of his paintings, “My focus is on the subjects: how they interrelate, how they portray themselves, and most importantly, how they make me feel. … The images are my memories – real or imagined – of these subjects.”
Nick Ward, Recent Works, Distillery Gallery, South Boston, January 24 – February 28, 2013, opening reception: Jan 24, 7-9 PM
Images: all images courtesy of the artist, Nick Ward: AMANDA’S LIPS, oil on board, 48×48 in; PORTRAIT OF MATTHEW CHERRY; MARGAUX WITH MORNING HAIR, oil on board, 48×48 in; CHRISTINE SUNBATHING #1, oil on board, 32×80 in; STUDY OF KELLEN’S FRECKLES, oil on board, 48×48 in.
mary vannucci says
I believe in this exhibit because the validity of portraits is never out done. These seem to be a classic…. Franz Hals-like . I am very interested in seeing the originals and to understand his process. I wish to discuss the problems in proportion and then how to photograph it . It seems to me that portraying an individual subject and rendering the individual as monumental is at its peak of importance …..as only in its spiritual sense. Nick Ward has been successful.