index

Artist:

ichard Schmid is one of the most admired and emulated painters in the world today. And with very good reason. His brilliant paintings of figures, landscapes and still life are captivating in their fresh, direct insightfulness. As a painter, Schmid sees directly to the heart and essence of the subject matter, and he brings his vision to the canvas with an unmatched technique that represents the spirit of alla prima at its most incisive.

The artist who has the opportunity to observe Schmid at work during one of his demonstrations is immediately aware that something extraordinary—something bordering on the magical—is taking place. There appears to be no hesitation, no indecision. The strokes fly with a breathtaking freedom, but seem to land with a laser precision. The reality of the subject leaps suddenly from the canvas as if by sorcery. For the artist who must then go to his own studio and attempt to do likewise, it can be a sobering experience.

The secret—if there is a secret—lies in the artist's clarity of vision, the relentless disciplining of the hand, brought together by Schmid's obvious joy in what he is doing.

In this portrayal of "Nan," we admire the extraordinarily sensitive portrayal of the sitter's features, flicked rapidly into place with the brush, but o so delicately and sensitively. Study the exquisite delineation of the hands, achieved with such unerring simplicity. Yes, we conclude, it is magic. J.H.S.