This is a short film that I put together one day last week. It was a little project that I took on at the request of my friends at Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, OK. They, like many galleries around the country, have taken a hard look at how they interact with their clients and are making a real effort to provide more information about the artists they represent in their gallery. To this end they are putting together a multimedia website that will give their clients a better look at the work and thoughts of their artists.
They asked that I provide them with some film of me working in the studio with some dialogue. It was pretty difficult deciding what I wanted to say in the film. I wanted to give an idea of what I see in my work and to tell a little of how I came to painting but I didn’t want to say too much. Wanted the paintings to be the focus.
As I was putting it together and I was inserting narration a theme came around. About the idea of finding one’s home. It’s a concept that I’ve been seeing a lot in my work as of late and one that I think can be applied to most of the work through the years. I think it fits.
The music is from the great acoustic guitarist Martin Simpson, a longtime favorite. I had the chance to take lessons from him many years ago when he resided in Ithaca for a while, after coming to the States from England. Carried the little classified ad from the Ithaca Times around in my wallet for the longest time but, like so many things in life, never got around to doing it. I’m not big on regrets but I do wish I’d taken that opportunity.
Anyway, this is the film that I came up with. I hope it works in some way…
To see the film in higher quality please click here to go the YouTube page.
Redtree Times 
I love this film, Gary. It’s very professionally done, and it sounds as though you are speaking off the cuff about your work rather than from a script. And yet it flows perfectly. Well done.
You look pretty intense when you are painting. How aware of the camera were you? It’s actually very instructive to see the different brushstrokes you use.
The theme is dead on, too. It never ocurred to me in quite those terms.
Thanks so much, Paul. I was a little nervous about showing this. Showing myself through my work is one thing. Actually showing myself is another.
I was very aware of the camera as I was specifically working at that moment on that painting for the film. But once I started at it, I shifted from performing for the camera back to being a painter. When I’m working on a piece, I feel I can only be effective when I am totally engaged with it in the process. I guess that’s the intensity you mention. It’s also the reason I never give demonstrations or instruct. The distraction of describing what I’m doing really affects my work, making me overlook nuances that I think are very important in my work.
Glad you like it, Paul. Thanks for the kind words.
Hey, Gary- We’ve got dialup out at the farm so I’ve been looking forward to checking this out at Parni’s. Very nicely done to say the least. The pans and zooms showcase the depth and subtleties of your work to better effect than any jpegs I’ve seen, and the narration is great. Your thoughts on home resonate. Place and home have always been so important to me too. Nice editing, pacing, music- Each element complements the others. Thanks for including the in-studio shots too. Looks like a very comfortable and conducive space, and it’s nice to be allowed a peek at the place where all that good work has come from. Great job.
Thanks, Mark. I really appreciate the comments. I just wanted to do something with this that didn’t embarass me too much.
Thank you, again.
I think Mark Reep has described it perfectly, thank you for the opportunity to seeing a bit about yourself, makes you feel like you know the artist a little more. Loved it.
Thanks so much.