Soft Focus (2013) Painting by Charles Riley

Oil on Canvas, 70x72 in
$16,900
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One of a kind
Artwork signed by the artist
Certificate of Authenticity included
This artwork appears in 4 collections
  • Original Artwork (One Of A Kind) Painting, Oil on Canvas
  • Dimensions Height 70in, Width 72in
  • Framing This artwork is not framed
  • Categories Paintings under $20,000
I used a base layer of stand oil to aide in the fluid spontaneous movement of the oil paint. The work was a reflection of immediate spontaneous correspondence to the medium, metaphor, and state of mind. In Taoism, a soft focus speaks of awareness of the world without the distraction of a narrow focus. Mountains, the sun, clouds, and water are used[...]
I used a base layer of stand oil to aide in the fluid spontaneous movement of the oil paint. The work was a reflection of immediate spontaneous correspondence to the medium, metaphor, and state of mind. In Taoism, a soft focus speaks of awareness of the world without the distraction of a narrow focus. Mountains, the sun, clouds, and water are used as metaphors for states of mind. Still water is a metaphor for centeredness, when the mind is uncluttered with accumulated conditioning. Mountains are often used to indicate the process of developing open awareness. The sun can refer to the firing process where metal is purified. The metal can be a human who is in the process of developing open awareness. In the Complete Reality School of Taoism, the best way to develop this open awareness is finding balance in everyday experience and especially in our social interactions which is best developed by loving one another (Chan San Feng).

On the level of communication theory, as advocated by Walter J. Ong, Marshall McLuhan and others, there are problems with overextended mediums, like radio, a hot medium used effectively by Hitler. According to communication theory, mediums that work on different senses act as a balance for newer mediums that may be overextended. Painting and print are two mediums that can have a balancing effect on electronic social media, an overextended media engendering unhealthy social interactions. With this in mind, I often use the older mediums of painting and print in ways that counter balance the electronic social media.

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At an early age I learned about art from an aunt who was an established artist. My father taught me a love of literature. My B.A. was in English Lit. My graduate degrees from Columbia University were in studio[...]

At an early age I learned about art from an aunt who was an established artist. My father taught me a love of literature. My B.A. was in English Lit. My graduate degrees from Columbia University were in studio art and teaching of college studio art. I had exhibitions in New York City during and after my grad work at Columbia. These included: The Macy Gallery at Columbia; Hudson Valley '85 National Exhibition Juried by Barbara Haskell, Curator of the Whitney Museum; Ariel Gallery in NYC; The Emerging Collector in NYC; Eighth Annual Exhibition of Emerging Artists at the Bronx Museum of the Arts; and In Search of the American Experience by The Museum of the National Arts Foundation. There were also reviews in The New York Times, ArtSpeak (a Gallery Review), and the Bronx News.

More recently, I show my work online at charlesrileyart, exhibit in shows at the Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts in Fredericksburg, VA. From 2012 through 2013 I displayed my artwork at Art First in Fredericksburg VA. Fredericksburg and Art First are very magical places if you ever get a chance to visit.

My artwork includes painting, mixed media, photography, and computer art, as well as a synthesis of the media. The work is expressionistic and it reflects what it is to be human. My writing, which I combine with the artwork, also reflects the human condition. The artwork is also a means to balance mundane conditioning that distracts us from the unconditioned creativity of the universe. My artwork is fed by relationships and other pursuits and studies such as Tai Chi, Taoism, Literature, Music, Media, and Art.

I studied Tai Chi with Master Da Liu in the 80's at Columbia University and I've been practicing and teaching since. I'm now teaching at two community centers in the Fredericksburg, VA area.

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