THE POWER OF PORTRAITS & PERSONALITY
Exploring portraiture provides the creative opportunity to utilize facial expressions and unique gestures specific to the individual personality as narrative elements in the landscape of human psychology. A primary interest is developing the idea that the inner manifests the outer meaning internal thought processes manifest the physiognomy of the physical body. Tight cropped compositions play a major role in zooming in on key attributes of the subject. Colour, contrast, brush stroke further set the stage to establish a feeling of the inner self. Subject matter ranges from well known personalities to everyday people.
Look up, move forward, climb consciously, use unconscious to be up-lifted, remember the rearview then make revisions, ride every ramp, turn the motor on to move mountains, elevate on the elevator of expression to evolve to illumination… Be innovative when exhibiting expression.
FACE IT
The Art of Portraiture is a journal of a journey into the profound perspective of personality. Painting people is an opportunity to capture the power of the personal perspective, shown in the lines in a face. Words are not necessary, and need not apply when faced with eye-contact. Then the goal is to get the game by gaining ground by calculating the gesture. Follow the Face, eyes are the window to the soul, the swell in the nostril notates breath, the curl in the mouth communicates the mind, the bend in the brow brings on the emotion, the cock of the head leads to the body… the body holds the posture of perspective… So, face the fact shown in the physical, then punch through to the psychological hidden essence behind the face that forms the façade. Portraiture provides opportunities to capture the philosophical ideas and psychological snapshots. Facial expression, colour palette, brushstroke, expressionistic process and compositional elements enliven the drama and meaning behind the face.
JFK PEGGED
Acrylic on drilled plywood, 47" x 39"
Some believe conquering the Greatest Post of Power - the Presidency - is to capture the ultimate “ego-boost;” and that becoming the Most Powerful Person in the Modern WORLD gives “Supreme Power.” However, winning the Presidential role can instead be in and of itself the Greatest Act of Courage.
Ask yourself Why? Then consider carefully the answer. To stand strong in the Presidential post requires sacrificing personal safety to sufficiently, let alone significantly protect the Patriotism of the People and security of the Republic, and to then Fight Fearlessly for its Freedom.
In 1957, JFK won a Pulitzer Prize for his book “Profiles in Courage.” We know what happened from there… The “Peg Board” Portrait series puts the profound in practical terms, and the creative method is “to make a point” with pictures, poke holes into the Politic in Art, to shine light through dark days. Triumph Today, is - teaching these traditional tales to powerfully point out purpose filled people and pinpoint historical places that punch bullet holes in history, and still take up the trident to keep the Truth alive, to keep U.S. ALL FREE.
DONALD J. TRUMP: 45TH POTUS PEGGED
Acrylic on drilled plywood, 46" x 45"
This Trump pegged portrait is a show stopper at my Canadian Studio. Patriots have stopped late in the evening telling me they Love Trump and want to own a portrait. My paintings of JFK and JFKjr. have the same jaw dropping effect for passersby. These interactions provide great Inspiration, and reinforce the level of support President Trump obviously has. My political journey in art has truly been eye-opening, and it seems my vision is somewhat prophetic based on the personalities I chose far before they became the pinpoint of public perspective. More to come... Snowden etc...
JFK JUNIOR PEGGED
Acrylic on drilled plywood, 49" x 40.5"
In 1957, JFK won a Pulitzer Prize for his book “Profiles in Courage.” I painted two Profiles in Courage: JFK: powerful father, JFK Jr. powerful son. Their example of the “First family” formed a a lasting memory in many minds, and their courage to speak out for what they believe in, and their strength in the face of adversity is iconic.
FLOTUS MELANIA TRUMP PEGGED
Acrylic on drilled plywood, 48" x 48"
Melania Trump, 45th First Lady of the United States of America showed strength and grace when facing a constant barrage of political hit pieces and propaganda. Melania Trump's courage to stand beside Donald Trump is an example of being a strong woman.
ELON MUSK PEGGED
X marks the Bullseye on the MUSKet
Acrylic on drilled plywood, 48" x 48"
The Elon Musk pegged portrait was commenced during Musk's interest of and purchase of Twitter.
Painting powerful personalities continues the historical tradition of capturing ground breaking people during significant times in humanity.
MAX BERNIER PEGGED
Acrylic on drilled plywood, 48" x 48"
Maxime Bernier is the Populist Leader of the PPC, People's Party of Canada.
The “MATRIX” Portrait series frames up profoundly powerful personalities into a technological Global gridwork of influence on the body Politic. Consider the meaning of "MATRIX:"
1/ something within or from which something else originates, develops, or takes form
3 (b)/ material in which something is enclosed or embedded as for protection or study
4 (a)/ the extracellular substance in which tissue cells (as of connective tissue) are embedded
5 (a)/ a rectangular array of mathematical elements such as the coefficients of simultaneous linear equations that can be combined to form sums and products with similar arrays having an appropriate number of rows and columns
5 (c)/ an array of circuit elements (such as diodes and transistors) for performing a specific function
Jousting in a journey through juggernauts...
Politics is a journey that assaults our everyday observation. We the People witness, "Profiles in Courage," and the profound change powerful personalities present to the World. The role of the contemporary artist is to provide "Creative Characterizations" in the process of all aspects of life, and throughout the past artists have documented the politic of their time, for viewers in the present to ponder, to make pathways into the future…
THE MAZE OF POLITICAL MAYHEM: JULIAN ASSANGE
As a Political painter, art brings forth the fun fact-finding act of contemplating upon being critically thinking, that some would perhaps say complicates life with too many considerations; yet – if you give yourself a chance/choice to sit back in a simple moment of “simplicity”, you can cross the BIG BRIDGE that spans “The New Normal” and consider plain old-fashioned concrete Common Sense. IMAGINE THAT? A chance to cross the contemporary river of rage to go-back to where/when things seemed to make more common sense. So, Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you the statements of “Julian Assange!” to consider, and think about how the subjects he bravely speaks effect/affect your life. #truth Look into the picture and read...
“The internet, our greatest tool of emancipation, has been transformed into the most dangerous facilitator of totalitarianism we have ever seen. The internet is a threat to human civilization.”
HILLARY CLINTON
Hillary Clinton and Benghazi
This Matrix series tight-cropped portrait of Hillary Clinton at the Benghazi hearings composed to zoom in on the psychological impact within the Benghazi hearing narrative, which was a high stakes stressful setting of political senate cross-examination by the Chairman Trey Gowdy. The Clinton painting is an artistic translation of a “real-time” in the moment photo posted on the Internet by Getty images. Batcules uses colour, contrast, grid composition and brush stroke to further set the stage of “the political matrix” to establish a feeling of the psychological political power dance and the “on the face” physiological reactions of the subject in a tight spot.
A damning report authored by the Republican-led House committee probing the Benghazi terror attacks faulted the Obama administration for a range of missteps before, during and after the fatal 2012 attacks – saying top administration officials huddled to craft their public response while military assets waited hours to deploy to Libya.
The committee's work itself was fiercely contested, with Democrats accusing Republican members of trying to politically harm presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of state at the time of the attacks. Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., asked Americans to "read this report for themselves ... and reach their own conclusions." At a press conference, Gowdy and other GOP lawmakers lamented that no forces were ordered to Benghazi. “Nothing was ever coming to Benghazi,” Gowdy said.
TREY GOWDY III
"The Hillary Slayer"
Try Gowdy was nicknamed The Hillary Slayer by Rolling Stone for his hardline stance against Hillary Clinton's actions during the Benghazi case, and critiqued Hillary Clinton's email server during the 2016 campaign. Gowdy pressed for the prosecution of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign, however nothing was realized.
- Born August 22, 1964, Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III is an American attorney, politician and former prosecutor.
- U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district, assumed office January 3, 2011.
- Chair of the House Oversight Committee, assumed office June 13, 2017.
- Chair of the House Benghazi Committee, in office May 8, 2014 – July 8, 2016.
GEORGE SOROS
The Global Financial Powerhouse
In this portrait Batcules explores the psychological features and facial landscape of the controversial figure George Soros who plays a major role in contemporary American and European politics and a controversial person in the news media. Ironically, many people do not know who George Soros is.
George Soros is a financial powerhouse considered a hero of left wing politicians and activists based on the billions he pours into many leftwing socialist activist groups while the conservative right wing considers Soros the “Anti-Christ” and creator of false flags as evidenced by the recent retweet by Rudy Guiliani. Many consider Soros an enemy of the state and a threat to peace. Perhaps this portrait will inspire people to learn more about the powerful entities that impact the life of all people on the globe.
The Art of the Abstract Portrait
Using composition, colour, patterns, and texture to define the depth in personality
Shelley explores facial expressions and distinct gestures inherent in the individual personality stimulates narrative elements to paint the path in the landscape of human psychology. A principle take-off point is developing the "Socratic" idea that the inner (the soul) manifests the outer physical experience, that contributes to the internal thought processes that ultimately manifest the physiognomy of the physical body. Compositional choices such as the tight crop play a major role in expanding the mind with an expansive "synecdoche" approach, while zooming in on key attributes of the subject. Along with the micro and macro approach colour, contrast, and textural brush stroke further set the stage to establish a feeling of the inner and outer self.
3RD EYE MIND
Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 48" X 60"
The third eye is a sense of prophetic sight, gut feeling and instinct and the intuitive ability to predict future potentials. When you master the art of listening to your gut you have used your third eye. Third Eye Mind is a mind trained to listen to gut instinct without questioning it. Capturing the idea visually requires more than a traditional approach to portraiture. Gestural expression is combined with a distinct abstract language of radial patterns built from coloured lozenge shapes. The radial formations help to express the a sense of cycles of thought and the mechanic movement of fourth dimensional quantum thinking which goes beyond one plane and walks into a multi-plane existence that transcends time.
“The Third Eye is a natural part of every person. One way to think of it is as a “meta” organ that consists of your mind and all of your senses working together as a larger, more powerful sensory organ. The Third Eye is a very clever bit of natural evolution that allows you to see the patterns in your life. Even more amazing, your third eye can reveal these patterns to you by overlaying this information on top of your other senses.” “By seeing energy as mental overlay rather than just an abstract concept, it becomes a tangible property of life that we can learn how to sense and interact with in a deeper manner.”
Source: https://personaltao.com
Pray JFK
Proclamation 3436—National Day of Prayer, September 28, 1961
During the deliberations in the Constitutional Convention they were called to daily prayers, with the reminder in sacred Scripture it is written that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build It,” and they were warned that without the concurring aid of Providence they would succeed in the political building “no better than the builders of Babel.”
Exploring the tragic assassination of JFK, and its timeless impact on society, it was important to use painting and dissertation as a way to expose these critical points in history.
"In Prayer Man: More Than A Fuzzy Picture, Bart Kamp has produced a rare and meticulous compendium of what exists within the documentary record about Lee Harvey Oswald, the employees of the Texas School Book Depository, the local police and federal investigators, the reporters, witnesses and peripheral figures associated with the minutes leading up to and the immediate aftermath of the attack upon President Kennedy’s motorcade in Dealey Plaza.
Bart’s journey from commercial and fashion photographer to JFK assassination researcher and author is an inspiring reminder of the first-generation critics of the Warren Report. His indefatigable determination, matched with reason and an innate intolerance of BS, has brought us closer than we have ever been to being able to assess for ourselves, without being told what or how to think, the questions associated with history’s unstable verdict on the enigma of Lee Harvey Oswald."
ALL SEEING EYE, oil on canvas, 24"X24"
The painting “All Seeing Eye” is a close-cropped self-portrait composed and segmented to form a keyhole, which shields the third eye, also called the mind's eye, or inner eye. Formally, Batcules utilizes a combination of coloured pencil and oil paint on canvas to create a multi-dimensional effect of background and foreground as the thick texture of the radiating paint lies above the soft blended pencil below.
The third eye or invisible eye located in the centre of the brow is a mystical and esoteric concept providing perception beyond ordinary sight, which refers to the gate that leads to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. In this painting the third eye is shielded behind the edge of keyhole emphasizing the protection of private innermost thoughts and feelings and the fact a key is required to unlock deeper spiritual secrets held within.
The third eye often symbolizes a state of enlightenment and the ability to evoke deeply spiritual and psychological states associated with visions and out-of body experiences. People who are claimed to have the capacity to utilize their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.
In a World of chaos, it is essential to have your...
3rd Eye Open
to find order.
3RD Eye Open
Acrylic on board, 48"X48"
Third Eye Open is a combined portrait representing duality between the fusion of male and female, merged by love – to become one physically, psychologically and spiritually in conscious and unconscious states. The mutual third eye formed through a union of like minds opens one line of sight and mutual vision. The duality of the portraits combine the sleeping (subconscious female) and waking state (conscious male) The female eyes are closed within the dream as the male protector watches over her, however at the centre point where their eyes overlap and intersect, two eyes become one "the third eye" of their love, therefore her left eye the connected eye is open.
The "photographic negative" reverse palette further emphasizes the duality and opposites in terms of the light and dark, waking and dreaming.
The Beauty in Everyday People
Lift your Head High
Painting people is an opportunity to capture the profound in the personality.
Capturing the Cheer in Children
Painting people captures the power of personal perspective shown in a map of lines of expression on the face. Words are not necessary, and need not apply when faced with eye-contact. The goal is to get in the game by gaining ground and calculating the gesture. Follow the Face, to see the eyes are the window to the soul, smell the swell in the nostril, break wind in breath, calculate the curl in the mouth that communicates externally for the mind, be aware of the bend in the brow and the bringing on of emotion, consider the cock of the head that curves through body language.
Face the fact, the physical punches into the hidden psychological essence behind the face, then the façade falls and the spirit of the picture sets sail.
Everyday people: past and present, leaders, celebrities, public officials, controversial figures and heroes open doors to a blank canvas, to then explore painting and capturing a distinct presence and psychology. Batcules artistic pursuits include choosing individuals and groups of people in a broad range of age, position and prominence to compose distinct stories and narratives. The formal approach, meaning materials and choice of composition varies based on the consideration of key points inherent in the subject, special features and characteristics, and the artistic intent to be traditional or experimental in genre and outcome.
Projects have incorporated grids/matrixes, peg board construction, canvas shapes, tight cropped compositions pushing the boundaries of the canvas, and scientifically calculated colour palettes. All these considerations add up to communicate to the spectator, so they can speculate on the personalities from their own unique perspective.