Episodes with Wayne Thiebaud
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Individual Artists
Episodes with Wayne Thiebaud Details
In Episodes with Wayne Thiebaud, Eve Aschheim and Chris Daubert interview Wayne Thiebaud in four extensive conversations in his studio. Thiebaud, known for his iconic paintings of cakes, pies and counter displays, is one of the last living painters of the Pop era. Staunchly maintaining his independence from that group and others, he went on to develop vertiginous cityscapes, deeply abstracted rural landscapes and, most recently, monolithic mountains. In these extended conversations, conducted between 2009 and 2011, Thiebaud reveals himself to be extremely well read, articulate, humorous, self-deprecating and opinionated. Covering a wide range of topics, he discusses his early years in New York, where he became friends with Willem and Elaine de Kooning and hung out at the Cedar Tavern; his return to California; the many influences on his work (Krazy Kat, Persian miniatures, de Kooning, Diebenkorn, Hopper, Balthus, de Chirico); his working methods and thoughts on painting; and his advice to young artists.
Reviews
I wasn't sure what I was getting when I ordered this book. As an admirer of Thiebaud's artwork, I found his opinions, observations and comments on his art and art in general very interesting and thought provoking as an artist myself. There are a number of artists/artwork references made during the interview sessions made by both parties that I found myself going on the internet to see who or what was being tales about. And I guess that is where I was a little disappointed in this book, I wish it had been more self-contained with additional images of these works instead of my having to go and search for them on another source. At least the works presented in the book are in color and not B&W, which is always an awkward way of presenting a full color piece of art. If you are a fan of Mr. Thiebaud, you will enjoy this book regardless. If you are new to his work I'd suggest buying something with more reproductions of his art first before getting Episodes.