To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=150973
16 messages

Bluegrass Series

29 May 13 - 10:57 AM (#3520373)
Subject: Bluegrass Series
From: Suzy Sock Puppet

This morning, I finally got a chance to really look over Richie Matteson's traditional song paintings. They're beyond enchanting, they are truly originaI. There are painters and then there are artists. Richie is an artist.

I especially love "Froggie Went a Courting'." I've seen many a Froggie dressed up in royal garb, but I don't believe I've ever seen one getting up on a horse. Then in "Banjo Picking Girl" you got this little racoon standing on barrel dancing a jig. I could see these in a children's book designed to turn children on to folk music.

Richie, you're not from Kentucky or anything are you? In my study of the ballad Lord Lovel, the charming thing about the Kentucky version is that they changed the title to "Milk-White Steed." In Kentucky, it's all about the horse! Come to think of it, the "Milk-White Steed" might want to be painted. I heard he's mighty pretty. And he has a history that goes all the way back. He's a true archetype. His significance to folklore, songs and ballads far exceeds that of Lord Lovel.

People should take the time to go and look at Richie's paintings. They'll make you smile:

Matteson Art 

29 May 13 - 10:01 PM (#3520583)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Richie

TY for those kind words.

I'm working on John Hardy now- it not a nice pretty picture as many of the ballads are- he standing on the scaffold looking out at the crowd gathered to watch him hang. A powerful image but not soething you'd want to hang in your living room.

By the way I sell prints of the paintings- ready to hang for just- $40 plus shipping.

I need to do more painting,

Richie

29 May 13 - 10:41 PM (#3520590)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Suzy Sock Puppet

You're welcome. Your paintings are gorgeous.

A hanging? That's a departure. What's next? Lord Thomas throwing the brown bride's severed head against the wall? You must be going into your dark period :-)

I love to decorate interiors. I live in a cabin and I have some interesting pieces of taxidermy- a bat, a rattlesnake, a jack rabbit with antlers, a jack rabbit with antlers and pheasant tail, a pheasant, a deer head and a deer arse. Are you sure a hanging wouldn't fit in with my decor? In fact, I'm going to photograph all my stuffed critters right now and send them over by email so you'll know I'm not kidding.

30 May 13 - 12:05 AM (#3520602)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: MGM·Lion

Charming and effective images indeed, Richie. I shall go back later for a closer, more detailed look; thus far I have found Bird In A Cage and Red Apple Juice - a song on my youtube set at

http://www.youtube.com/user/mgmyer

- particularly interesting.

I am distantly reminded of the great Remington's Western paintings ~~ more a matter of intertextuality, perhaps, that direct influence. I hope you will consider such a comment as the compliment intended.

All best in your work and continued endeavours

~Michael~

30 May 13 - 09:33 AM (#3520687)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Steve Gardham

Great stuff, Richie! You sure have some pretty girls floating around in your head.
Unfortunately I live in quite a small house and the walls are already full of steam trains, Humber keels, tugs and broadsides, along with many family pics.

I look forward to seeing some more of the big ballads. I'd be interested in your depiction of The Cruel Mother. No, I'm not a sadist. I feel sorry for her in that she felt obliged to go to such lengths to hide her shame.

Can you please let us have blue clickies to any Child Ballads already done? Are there links on your ballad site?

30 May 13 - 09:46 AM (#3520690)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Keith A of Hertford

It is lovely to see beautiful images evoked by song.
I wish I could make such of the songs I love.
Every success,
keith.

30 May 13 - 09:52 AM (#3520691)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: MGM·Lion

Re my previous post ~~ I have just found your Remington Rides Again in the Older Paintings section!

Very interested in the ambiguities in the Driftwood section Reclining Nude, also.

~M~

30 May 13 - 10:14 AM (#3520697)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Richie

Hi,

Haven't tackled the Child Ballads but I do have several American murder ballads, Pretty Polly is one and Banks of the Ohio is another.

TY for the comments,

Richie

30 May 13 - 12:55 PM (#3520759)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

I've looked at many of these on side trips from the bluegrass messengers' site. They're really impressive Richie (and like Steve says you do seem to find a lot of pretty women in the songs!). I've never had any talent for art (at school I was top in every subject except art, for which I was something like 23rd of a class of 30! I eventually managed to trade it for Russian - I was top in that!) and I can only admire those that have.

(Richie - It's also interesting to me that you know Ricardo Cobo (and studies with Shearer)- I have some recordings of Brouwer by him (Cobo), and when I was learning El Decameron Negro, it was his recording of it on youtube that I favoured).

It's a wonder you have time for all the ballad work as well as painting and BM! Best wishes Richie.

Mick

30 May 13 - 02:23 PM (#3520799)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Richie

I went to NCSA with Cobo- he was one of the top students. I have Cobo's sheet music (with Shearer's fingering) for El Decameron, if you want it I'll look for it.

I used to play it- but it's been a while- great piece.

TY esp for your help wiht Child ballads thread,

All the best

Rcihie

30 May 13 - 04:31 PM (#3520839)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

Richie - if you come across the score I'd love to have a look at the fingering (always nice to see what other people do), but don't put yourself to too much trouble.

Mick

31 May 13 - 09:26 PM (#3521389)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: Suzy Sock Puppet

I was looking at the older paintings earlier and I really like some of them. I love "The Tree of Life, " the delicate colors of the sky and the shape of the tree branches. I could see that one and "Soleares" in the same room together. I loved "Gran's Gull" and the story that went with it.

The "Crucifixion" left a big impression. The story behind the painting is interesting indeed. I wish the image was larger so I could see it better. I'm certain it would have been better received in a place like NYC. I wonder if it was just the fact of Christ being nude that offended or if they were offened at other aspects of your artistic vision as well. It definitely takes you out of your comfort zone, however, some would argue that that is a lot of what good art is supposed to do.

01 Jun 13 - 05:48 PM (#3521669)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: GUEST,Richie

When I finished "Crucifixion" which depicts Jesus nude on the cross in outer space- hovering over the world- I entered it in an art show in Beaufort SC, not a particularly open-minded environment.

I went to the show in the afternoon and when I got to my
"Crucifixion" painting was still hung but turned around backwards so no one could view it. I complained but apparently they weren't ready for a "nude" Jesus.

Then I figured I'd give the painting to my brother, who was and still is a minister. He hung it up in the living room. When I was visiting a few month later I found that my painting was now in my brother's closet- another instance of Jesus being nude- which was too much for my brother as well.

I guess that's what happened to the Sistine Chapel when they painted doilies over Michelangelo's work.

Richie

02 Jun 13 - 08:50 AM (#3521850)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: GUEST,leeneia

Thanks for the link, SJ.

02 Jun 13 - 03:11 PM (#3521968)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: GUEST,Lady Ancebelle

On the contrary, thank you for looking at Richie's paintings. Did you see the one where the pretty horses gallop off into the shape of a sleeping baby's face and the butterfies fly into the shape of a lamb? Who thinks of stuff like that? Richie does, because he's an artist. It's a beautiful, wildly imaginative, tender-hearted painting.

Do you know how difficult it is to create such paintings and worry about the world at the same time? It's difficult. But no matter what matter what it took to get them here, they're here. And there's no taking them back.

I am going to buy that one for my grandson Carter to present to him on the day his new little brother or sister arrives (December 21st due date) to encourage feelings of br l brotherhood, love and gentleness toward the new baby.

See there? Bubbe knows what she's doing. And the fact that I can tell Carter "Bubbe's friend painted this," will be the icing on the cake. That's what kids understand. That's what they know.

02 Jun 13 - 03:16 PM (#3521972)
Subject: RE: Bluegrass Series
From: GUEST,Lady Ancebelle

Sorry for the typos. Sometimes I get careless.

Btw, I'm a big fan of Middle English. Your students are never going to write if they get hung up on spelling.