My Hero
“Dear Mr. Thiebaud,
I am an artist who has painted desserts for a decade, and have tried to meet you when you visited New York. Unfortunately, the weather intervened. First, there was a major storm when you were scheduled to speak at the Neuberger Museum in Purchase, NY many years ago. Most recently, Hurricane Sandy walloped New York right before your planned talk at Acquavella Galleries.
My husband and I will be coming to the San Francisco area the first week in June, and we would like to meet you and visit your studio in Sacramento at your convenience.”
Unfortunately, my visit to Wayne Thiebaud’s studio this past summer never materialized. At age 93, Mr. Thiebaud is still a rather private person, despite being a famous award winning artist with iconic rock star status in the art world, especially among Pop Art lovers. However, his unique style actually defies any specific label.
In late May, my request was graciously turned down during a lively phone call from Kelly Purcell, the Director of the Paul Thiebaud Gallery, who called at the request of Mr. Thiebaud himself. Kelly and I chatted for a while about Mr. Thiebaud and my art, how he motivated me to try new things in my own work, which was positively received. We spoke about my upcoming trip to San Francisco, and she gave me many tips on where to go to experience the local art scene. Kelly made sure to tell me about Mr. Thiebaud’s upcoming show in New York at Acquavella Galleries in October, but mentioned that he would not be attending the opening.
Although I was excited to get a response from someone so close to Wayne Thiebaud and thought it was a very considerate, a part of me was disappointed when I had to fill the hole in our itinerary which I had left open for a trip to Sacramento. Although this was frustrating, I had to respect his wishes. Deep down, I knew that I would have done the same thing if I had been in his shoes. And trust me, there’s a point in telling you all of this.
My whole attitude changed Tuesday night when I went to the opening of the Wayne Thiebaud Show at Acquavella Galleries (18 East 79th Street) in New York City, even if the artist wouldn’t be there. So my husband Jay and I left late, taking our time getting down to the city and into the gallery.
We slowly toured the four large rooms on two floors trying to savor every work before closing. I naturally gravitated toward the food paintings, especially the desserts. I was mesmerized by this painting, with its stark white display case depicted with bold, assertive horizontal strokes, contrasting dramatically with the vibrantly colored circular cake shapes. I admired how Thiebaud revels in the application of thick paint on these cakes, as if he were icing them in his kitchen.
Sometimes the voluminous paint itself seems to be the subject, as in this work. The poetry is in the paint, with the white icing on the left dessert protruding a 1/4 inch or more from the canvas. I wondered how long it took to dry.
Let’s not forget the humble hunks of cheese that feel monumental in this small painting, and yet seem magically abstract. (Much has been written about the influence of still life painter Antonio Morandi on Thiebaud, and I could feel it here for the first time.)
Since I associate Thiebaud more with food and San Francisco landscapes, I was unexpectedly struck by the range of insightful and powerful portraits in the show, staring right at you with their vivid colors and dynamic brushwork. Jay couldn’t resist showing us his take on this Thiebaud portrait of an art historian intently examining a painting.
I was so enthralled that I never even thought to ask if Wayne Thiebaud was at the opening.
At 7:50pm, 10 minutes before closing, Jay and I went back through the galleries taking more photos. There we met Clay, an outgoing guy who introduced himself as a friend of Thiebaud’s from Sacramento, who told us Thiebaud had recently modified this painting called “Flood Waters” by adding the bridge going across the water (which explained the catalog date of 2006/2013). Clay was kind enough to offer to take this photo of the two of us in front of this dramatic birds-eye view landscape that is so typical of Thiebaud.
When I mentioned to Clay that I was writing a blog, he asked for my website, commenting that Wayne Thiebaud had just gotten an iPad. Before I knew it, I was standing next to my hero having my picture taken with him.
In the brief time that I spent with him, I got a feeling of quiet strength, humility and integrity emanating from Wayne Thiebaud and saw signs of a gentle sense of humor. I finally got to tell him how much I admired his work and had followed his career. As Thiebaud shook my hand (with a very firm handshake), he told me that was what he liked to hear – with an amused twinkle in his eye, almost like a wink. He was the kind of person I would have enjoyed spending an afternoon with, both as a student and as a friend listening to stories of his remarkable life and career.
When Clay first introduced us, I found myself almost speechless and in shock. Now that I have had a little time to reflect, I have gathered my thoughts together in a letter.
Dear Mr. Thiebaud,
If I’m really lucky, you’ll be reading this blog post on your new iPad and seeing a few things I wanted to say in person, but didn’t. Most of all, I want to thank you for being such an inspiration to me for so many years.
The simple power of your work and focus on the everyday world speaks directly to me, always bringing a smile to my face. I feel like we are kindred spirits on some level in the way we experience the world, and what we choose to paint – which is why I treasure the moments I spend looking through copies of your sketchbooks. And it was truly an honor to be included in two group shows featuring sweets with you.
Your flair for turning mundane objects into dramatic compositions, your fearless use of bold color, light & shadows, and the magic in your distinctive application of paint has certainly influenced my own approach to making art. I believe I am a better artist because of you. It was a pleasure to finally meet you.
