Fred Bell

Fred Bell

Artist's Statement, 2011

The work should stand alone.

I want each portrait to work as a painting and a portrait.  My portraits are about more than the sitter.  It is also about creating art.  I want the painting to have value to not only the sitter and his acquaintances but also to those who do not know who is portrayed.

Working in series.

Painting the same subject repeatedly forces me to be creative.  It makes me feel free. I don't want to do the same painting over and over.  Each one must be different.  This process also promotes play.  I feel very confident with the subject and it allows me to try new approaches that might not occur if I did only one painting.

The emotion and attitude.

Most of my portraits are done from photos.  This gives a "snapshot" of the person.  I try to spend time with them chatting to get a feeling for who they are.  The feeling comes about in a mostly spontaneous way, by osmosis it seems. 

Using paint.

Thick paint is thrilling to work with.  I can create swoops and dramatic marks across the picture plane.  The bold brush strokes evoke confidence and a feeling of being done with a casual attitude.  They give the surface of the painting an expressive panache.