A Lie That Tells the Truth

The kid’s book I’m writing (Odd Squad, Disney-Hyperion, Spring 2013) uses Picasso’s quote as a major theme.  But it’s tricky to interpret.  We intuitively know what Picasso is saying.  A painting doesn’t have to be representational to depict reality.  Consider Picasso’s Gurenica — probably the 20th century’s most powerful depiction of the horrors of war.

Which then would be more “true”?  Picasso’s painting or a photograph of the Basque villiage of Guernica in Northern Spain while the Germans bombed  for 3 hours killing 1600 men, women and children on April 27th 1937.   A photograph would certainly be more representational.  If only for a specific moment.  The painting however, while an abstraction of reality, is for me more real than any photograph could be.

Is it therefore more “true”?

Is it that a lie can only tell the truth when the lie the truth tells is a greater truth?

Yeah, I know…  it sounds way better when Picasso said it.

And didn’t try to explain it.

“Sunflowers” by Hammy Van Gogh (Butterfly Brush)

Just a beautiful job by T.

Gorgeous.

 

Frank Frazetta (1928-2010)

The renowned comics and fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta died today.  He was 82.

I’ve been a fan since I first saw his work in college.   His command of gesture (the explosive flow of his line) just leaves me in awe.  His figures ignite off the page.   Yeah, there’s too many muscle bound barbarians protecting too many helpless, naked damsels in distress, but so what?  He was the master at bringing fantasy to life.

We often say in comics to never draw anything the reader can better imagine for themselves.  Unless you’re Frank Frazetta. No one’s imagination could compete with his brush.

Okeanos V

Okeanos was (is?) the Greek god of Rivers.  The painting above, Okeanos V, is by my good friend and fellow Buda-ite  Kathleen Holder.   I like her work a lot.  It’s not exactly abstract and it’s not exactly impressionism.  It’s abstrapressionism!  (Forgive me, I’m a cartoonist, not a painter).   

Her work reminds me of a lot of pre-production concept art you see for a feature animated film.  The big studios like Pixar or DreamWorks Animation do a “temperature color chart” of the film.   It’s a color graph accompanied by concept art that depicts the tone (or temperature) of each scene in the film.  They’re looking for a good mix of cool and warm colors.   

For Over the Hedge, the painting above could have been a depiction of where RJ’s soul was going to go if he didn’t redeem himself in the third act and help out his new found furry family.  

Or not.   

To see more of Kathleen’s wonderful work go to the David Lusk Gallery

Or check out Kathleen’s web site.