CHUCK CLOSE American “Photo Realist” Artist Charles Thomas Close

CHUCK CLOSE Chuck was born in Monroe, Washington in 1940. His interest in art began at an early age. He pursued his interest in painting throughout high school and college 1962 - graduated from University of Washington 1964 - earned his master’s degree from the Yale University School of Art and Architecture 1965-67 - taught in the art depart of University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

CHUCK CLOSE Chuck Close is associated with the style of painting called Photorealism or Superrealism. In this style, artists in the early 1970s created a link between representational systems of painting and photography.

CHUCK CLOSE Photorealism A style of painting in which a image is created in such exact detail that is looks like a photograph; superrealistic Representational Depicts an object in nature in recognizable form. Art Work #1 Roy II 1995

CHUCK CLOSE Photorealist frequently used a GRID TECHNIQUE to enlarge a photograph and reduce each square to formal elements of design. Each grid was its own little work of art.

CHUCK CLOSE Close painted many of these types of portraits of himself and his friends either in black and white or in color. Most of the paintings are only have a first name in the title Art Work #2 Phil 1968

CHUCK CLOSE For Close, the visual elements are more important than the feelings expressed in the portraits. He said that his works are “Paintings first and portraits second”. He is attracted to photographs that have the “mug-shot” quality of a driver’s license photo. Art Work #3 Frank 1968 Art Work #4 Linda 1976-78

Big Self Portrait Art Work #5 1968

CHUCK CLOSE Close wryly confesses that “during this time in his life he is guilty of having seen too many James Dean movies.”

On Dec. 7, 1988, at the age of 49, Close was at the height of his career as a portrait painter when he was stricken with a spinal blood clot that left him a quadriplegic. Many thought his career was over... CHUCK CLOSE

CHUCK CLOSE With a paint brush clamped between his teeth, he developed a new way to paint. Later he has developed a device to hold his hand and brush to paint in the small grid areas. His portraits, the photos and canvases are gridded off by assistants and then he uses the techniques of grisaille and pointillism within the grids.

CHUCK CLOSE Grisaille A painting technique using only grey tints. Pointillism A painting technique in which a white background is covered with tiny dots of pure color that fuse when seen from a distance producing a luminous visual effect.

Fanny This 1985 oil-based ink on canvas is a portrait of Close's grandmother-in-law. Art Work #6

CHUCK CLOSE

KiKi Close’s new technique is apparent in this painting in 1993. 25 years from the “Big Self-Portrait” KiKi took 3-4 months to complete. KiKi close-up detail 1993 Art Work #7

Chuck Close Although each square is a tiny abstract painting, Close can envision the the entire face without crossing the room.

Lucas 1987 Chuck Close Close tries to “Find a way that the colors would mix optically in the viewer’s eyes.” Art Work #8

Chuck Close Agnes 1998 Lyle 1999 Art Work #9 Art Work #10

Chuck Close’s Collages Close’s collages are make of handmade paper on canvas Close began to work with handmade paper in 1981. Georgia, 1984 Jud 1982 Georgia is Close’s daughter; here at the age of 13 years old. Art Work #11 Art Work #12

Chuck Close Throughout his career, Chuck Close has focused on faces What he shows is more than skin deep...

Chuck Close Photo Realist Artist 1940-