The Art of Todd White

When I was New Orleans the other day (after Mardi Gras), I toured some of the art shops and studios. I wanted to see what commercial art looked like these days. I had no imtention of buying. It was more research than anything. I was hoping to absorb some technicques and styles that I want to imitate or learn. Most of the art was decent but then I stumbled upon some paintings by an artist named Todd White. I was immediately taken. His work is visual stunning and surreal. It is the odd mix of caricature work and bold colors but never cartoonish. He finds the right angles to express people's moods and understated emotions. Here are some of his pieces.

Just the Blues

Now, this is art. I looked for the artist's website, and I found it (http://www.artofwhite.com/). Most of his works are posted there. I just want to show you a couple. On the website, the artist would write the meaning or inspiration behind some of his pieces. The painting above, Just Blues, was music inpsired the artist explained. He wanted to paint in shades of blue. The piece is perfect, (at least in my eyes). The shades of blues capture the coolness of the music or the man or both. It is the static loneliness of the moment that I like the most. I notice it in the angular cuts of the guitar player's face, his one noticeable eye, the sharpness of his jacket or the enmptiness in the room. For me, the painting richly captures a musician's absolute belief in his music and the loneliness that comes with that, but at the same time the desire to be heard by an audience, which he sees in everyone. It is why he is looking at the artist painfully hoping.

Just a Taste

Todd While does many paintings of people in social cliques. They always stand side by side facing the artist like a mock lineup of the usual suspects. These cliques are easy for the artist to find because he lives in Los Angeles, in the very center of Hollywood chic. He regularly tours the restaurants, bars and hip night spots looking for inspiration. This painting Just A Taste is probably the result of one of those tours.

In my mind, he is definitely mocking the clique that loves to taste wine. It is a lie when they say, "just a taste". There are empty glasses on the table, and more bottles to drink. They only go to wine tastings to drink for free. It is their little secret. They eye one another nervously hoping their secret would not be found out. The pretense is further erected by the way they hold their glasses: tilted, above them or under their nose. It as if wine was a delicate prism, which must be held just the right way. It is only then the true light of a vineyard can be seen, smelt or tasted. Then, there are those who seem to be waiting for what others have to say. They hope their internal comments are equal to ones voiced by others. It is the game of the pretentious. The painting evokes that so well. It is in the characters' shifty eyes and slighted demeanor. The way the characters are placed offhandedly from another. Their glasses are struck perfectly in front of them. It is their object of pretention. The painting is brilliant. I wish I could have it.

My New House

White does many paintings of women. Some of them are semi erotic. The women are provocatively clothed or barely clothed. All seem ready to shed that that final layer in the viewer's imagination. Others just catch that moment of emotion that women seem to have. It seems to make them stand perfectly still, in that erect contemplative mood. It is the sudden introspection and thought that White catches. This piece frames that moment perfectly.

The lady looks doubtful of her new environs, questioning herself. Part of her cannot believe she going to live here. Or, she cannot believe she bought this place. She is unwilling to step forward until she comes to some resolution about this. It is the impetousness of emotion. Her eyes are searching for the answer. She even grips her purse tightly in case she has to make a run for it. Or she is scared and gripping the purse is the only sign of her understated emotion. Whatever it is, it is absolutely stated with her conservative manner. The artist does an excellent job of rendering that moment. My New House is the kind of piece you stare it. You want to know who this person is and why they are in such personal turmoil. It tells a story that everyone wants to hear.

I am now a dedicated fan of Todd White. His art is instructive. I can watch his pieces over and over. People interest me like they interest Todd White. It is those moments that evaporate so quickly that I want to capture in my paintings. This artist is doing what I only dream of. On his website, he describes an artist as being a voyeur. They just sit and watch, and watch, and watch. In so doing, they hope to capture every last fleeting detail but from my experience it never happens.

White's paintings do not just capture fleeting moments but the exactness of them. He comes in at off angles and freezes the frame. He has caught them emotionally redhanded, or with red wine in hand. It should be noted that White paints the hands and fingers first. In each piece, they are quite noticeable. Those fingers are often long and insidiously emaciated which is perfect. They deliciously serve the etiquette of the character whether strumming a guitar, holding a glass or clutching purse.

Todd White's perfects in his paintings the vanity of the individual. The uniqueness everyone thinks they have but really it is an imagined difference tolerated by everyone else. Todd White shatters that illusion succintly. He has mastered the skill of an artist, which is his imagination and not in his hands.

The Inspired Trini