Fresh Paint - Michael Hussar

SullenTV

14 Mar 201413:10

Summary

TLDRMichael Husser, an oil painter from Pasadena, revisits a piece called 'Twink,' which he had set aside a year ago. Known for his white-on-white with splashes of red, Husser shares his struggles with the intricate warm and cool tones in the painting. He reflects on his artistic journey, from painting as a child to teaching and being influenced by old masters like Van Dyke and Rembrandt. Husser discusses his work ethic, creative process, and preference for traditional techniques while acknowledging the evolving art scene and his desire to keep growing as an artist.

Takeaways

🎨 Michael Husser is an oil painter based in Pasadena and works in his studio.
🖼 He is revisiting a piece called 'Twink,' which he had set aside a year ago. It's an 8x10 painting, primarily white with a splash of red.
🖌 He graduated from Art Center in 1991 and has been painting for over 20-25 years.
👨‍🏫 Michael began teaching five years after graduating, feeling that he could address some of the weaknesses he experienced in art education.
✈️ He enjoys traveling for workshops, particularly in Europe, where visiting museums inspires him.
👨‍🎨 His early influence came from his father, who was a Sunday painter, and he started painting around the age of five or six.
🌙 He describes himself as a night owl, often working late into the night when it's quiet and uninterrupted.
🔍 Michael is heavily inspired by old masters like Rembrandt and Anthony Van Dyck, aiming to bring a traditional flair to his work despite modern subject matter.
📚 He advises young painters to study the old masters and avoid being too influenced by contemporary artists, emphasizing the importance of building a large library of art books.
🖼 He is currently trying to evolve away from the 'pop surrealism' style and move into more personal and less redundant work.

Q & A

Who is Michael Husser and what does he do?
-Michael Husser is an oil painter based in Pasadena, California. He creates art in his studio and is known for his white-on-white paintings with splashes of red.
What painting is Michael Husser currently working on, and why did he initially abandon it?
-Michael is currently working on a smaller piece called 'Twink,' which measures 8x10 inches. He abandoned it about a year ago due to struggles with balancing the warm and cool whites in the piece.
How did Michael Husser first become interested in painting?
-Michael’s interest in painting began when he was around five or six, watching his father, who was a 'Sunday painter.' He painted a few works alongside his father, but later abandoned it and focused on drawing before revisiting painting in high school.
When did Michael Husser start teaching, and what motivated him to do so?
-Michael started teaching five years after graduating from the Art Center in 1991. He was motivated by the desire to improve areas he felt were lacking in his art school education and found it rewarding to help students grow.
What is Michael Husser’s routine when working on paintings?
-Michael has a flexible routine, often waking up, having coffee, and sometimes taking naps. He likes working late at night when the world is quiet and prefers to keep working without long breaks to maintain the flow of his brushwork.
Why does Michael Husser prefer larger paintings over smaller ones?
-Michael prefers larger paintings because he enjoys working with larger brushes and achieving bigger results. Although smaller paintings are more affordable and easier to display, they tend to require detailed work that can be time-consuming.
What painting styles or movements has Michael Husser been associated with?
-Michael has been associated with the lowbrow art scene, pop surrealism, and symbolist movements. However, he doesn’t pay much attention to these labels and simply considers himself a painter with traditional influences.
Who are some of Michael Husser’s biggest influences in art?
-Michael is heavily influenced by old masters like Anthony van Dyke, Rembrandt, and painters from the Baroque period. He also admires John Singer Sargent and Rococo artists.
What tools does Michael Husser recommend for painting?
-Michael recommends investing in high-quality tools, such as Treckle brushes, which he uses for both all prima painting and indirect techniques. He believes that better tools lead to better results.
What advice does Michael Husser give to young painters?
-Michael advises young painters to study the old masters and avoid getting overly influenced by contemporary artists. He emphasizes the importance of building a library of art books and spending time in museums to truly understand the craft.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Returning to the Canvas: Michael Husser's Artistic Struggles and Inspirations

Michael Husser, a Pasadena-based oil painter, revisits an unfinished painting called 'Twink' after a year-long hiatus. He shares the technical challenges he faces with color corrections and reflects on his artistic journey, which began at age six. He discusses how teaching art has been rewarding, though also demanding, and how traveling to European museums recharges his creative energy. Husser reflects on his nocturnal work habits, emphasizing how uninterrupted late-night hours allow him to immerse deeply into his projects.

05:01

🖌 The Intricacies of Small and Large-Scale Paintings

Husser contrasts the experience of working on small versus large paintings. Though smaller pieces, like the 8x10 'Twink,' seem quicker to complete, he finds himself over-detailing them. Larger pieces, which can reach up to six feet in size, offer a different scope but demand significant space to display. He also reflects on his involvement with the lowbrow and pop surrealist art movements but expresses his disinterest in current art labels and gallery dealings, viewing his work as rooted in traditional techniques despite contemporary subject matter.

10:03

🖼 Autobiography in Paint: Husser’s Personal Art Journey

Husser describes his artwork as autobiographical, painting as a means of self-exploration rather than keeping a diary. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal truth in his work, seeking to uncover deeper answers about himself through painting. He also discusses his admiration for old masters like Anthony van Dyke, Rembrandt, and others from the Baroque period. His creative influences are ever-evolving, drawing from historical figures while striving to add a contemporary twist.

🎨 The Evolution of Tools and Techniques in Husser’s Art

Husser reflects on how the tools used by artists have changed minimally over the centuries, yet better tools can significantly improve results. He emphasizes the importance of investing in high-quality supplies, noting how students often expect good results from cheap materials. He praises Treckle brushes for their durability, especially when working with thick layers of paint in alla prima techniques. Husser describes the contrast between direct painting approaches and the layered, gradual process involved in building up complex works over time.

🛠 Evolving Beyond Pop Surrealism and Looking to the Old Masters

Husser discusses his desire to evolve beyond the pop surrealism movement, which he feels has become overrun with imitators. He encourages young painters to study the old masters directly, instead of copying contemporary artists. He emphasizes the importance of building a large library of art books and regularly visiting museums to truly understand painting techniques. According to Husser, success as an artist comes from putting in time and effort, rather than focusing on creating masterpieces immediately.

🖌 The Power of Good Tools and the Importance of Technique

Husser continues to highlight the value of high-quality brushes and materials in his artistic process. He reflects on his work with alla prima techniques alongside fellow artists, where Treckle brushes have proven indispensable for efficiently moving large amounts of paint. These painting sessions, though quick and intense, allow for creative freedom and experimentation. Husser showcases some of these works as examples of how the right tools can support dynamic, expressive results in the studio.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Oil Painter

An oil painter is an artist who uses oil-based paints to create artwork. In the video, Michael Husser identifies himself as an oil painter, discussing his work and struggles with different painting techniques, especially using white and red in his pieces. Oil painting is central to his career and the main medium through which he expresses his art.

💡Twink

Twink refers to the title of a smaller painting (8 by 10 inches) that Michael Husser abandoned for a year and is now revisiting. He is known for 'white on white' works with splashes of red, which is a prominent feature in this piece. The painting is a representation of his ongoing artistic journey and the challenges he faces when revisiting older work.

💡Warm and Cool Colors

Warm and cool colors are two categories in color theory that evoke different emotional responses. Warm colors include reds, oranges, and yellows, while cool colors include blues, greens, and purples. In the video, Husser struggles with achieving the right balance between warm and cool whites in his painting 'Twink,' highlighting the technical complexity of working with subtle color variations.

💡Old Masters

The Old Masters refers to great painters of previous centuries, particularly during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Artists like Anthony Van Dyke and Rembrandt, mentioned by Husser, serve as his primary influences. He looks up to their mastery of technique and aims to capture a similar 'Old Master' style in his work, despite his subject matter being more contemporary.

💡Pop Surrealism

Pop Surrealism, also known as Lowbrow Art, is a modern art movement that blends surrealism with popular culture, often featuring whimsical or bizarre imagery. Husser mentions that he has been associated with this movement, but expresses a desire to move away from it, as it has become saturated with imitators. His work, though contemporary, is still rooted in traditional techniques.

💡Autobiographical Art

Autobiographical art refers to artwork that draws on the artist’s personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Husser describes his paintings as autobiographical, explaining that his work reflects his own life and thoughts. He emphasizes that his art is a form of self-exploration, and each piece serves as a visual diary of his journey.

💡All Prima

All Prima, also known as 'wet-on-wet' painting, is a technique where layers of paint are applied without allowing the previous layers to dry. Husser uses this technique for some of his quicker works and emphasizes the importance of using sturdy brushes, such as Treckle brushes, for this method. The rapid nature of All Prima contrasts with the slow, layered approach he takes with his other works.

💡Workshops

Workshops in the context of art are short-term, intensive courses where artists can learn new skills or refine existing ones. Husser discusses his experience in teaching workshops, particularly in Europe, where he finds inspiration from museums. Though he enjoys teaching, he finds it challenging to communicate deeper artistic concepts in the short time frame.

💡Gallery Scene

The gallery scene refers to the commercial art world, where artists exhibit and sell their work through galleries. Husser expresses frustration with the gallery system, preferring to sell his work independently. He criticizes the scene for being repetitive and feels disconnected from its trends, which no longer excite him.

💡Art Education

Art education is the formal or informal teaching of visual arts. Husser touches on his own background in art education, both as a student and later as a teacher. He stresses the importance of studying the Old Masters and building a strong library of art books, which he considers essential for any serious painter looking to grow their skills and career.

Highlights

Michael Husser is an oil painter based in Pasadena, known for his work featuring white on white with splashes of red.

Husser revisited a small piece titled 'Twink,' an 8x10 white painting with red accents, after abandoning it for about a year.

He often struggles with balancing warm and cool tones in his white pieces, which leads to meticulous adjustments.

Husser started painting at age six but didn’t seriously pursue art until his early twenties, eventually graduating from Art Center in 1991.

After graduating, Husser taught art and found it rewarding to guide students, though he later shifted to conducting workshops in Europe.

He draws inspiration from visiting European museums and finds that seeing the same artwork in different ways recharges his creative energy.

His father, a 'Sunday painter,' initially inspired his interest in art when Husser was around five or six.

He describes his working habits as irregular, often staying up all night and finding his artistic flow in the quiet of nighttime.

Although small paintings take time due to detailed work, Husser prefers working on larger pieces with bigger brushes, as he feels more comfortable with them.

He was once associated with the Lowbrow art movement and Pop Surrealism but feels disconnected from the current art scene and gallery system.

Husser considers his paintings autobiographical, expressing his personal journey and reflections on his identity through his work.

Anthony Van Dyck and Rembrandt are among his main influences, alongside painters from the Baroque period and more modern artists like John Singer Sargent.

Husser emphasizes the importance of using high-quality materials, including paint and brushes, to achieve better results in painting.

He recommends young artists study old masters, visit museums, and build extensive art libraries rather than copying contemporary trends.

His future goals include evolving out of the Pop Surrealism niche, focusing on sculpting and working more independently from galleries.