ROBERT BISSETT - Recent Paintings
Purchase Paperback
Hardcover and PDF also available

Bissett Invited to Exhibit at Florence Biennale!

Posted by Robert Bissett at 4:27 PM

Bato Dugarzhapov, Russian Master Painter and Me

Posted by Robert Bissett at 4:27 PM

Plein Air #4 of '09...Reworked

Driveway
11x14"
Acrylic on canvas

Gypsy...more touchup and the best photo yet.

Posted by Robert Bissett at 4:59 PM

Plein Air #4 of '09

Driveway
11x14"
Acrylic on canvas

Plein Air #3 of '09

Truck in Snow
9x12"
Acrylic on canvas

Life Drawing Session #2 of '09

15 Minute

30 Minute

See fine art prints available at Fine Art America. On paper or canvas, optional matting, framing and glazing.

Posted by Robert Bissett at 4:59 PM

Snow Bound

Photo/Digital

detail

Plein Air #2 for 2009

Garden Gate
12x16"
Acrylic on Canvas

See fine art prints available at Fine Art America. On paper or canvas, optional matting, framing and glazing.

Posted by Robert Bissett at 2:25 PM

First 'On Location' Painting of '09!

Yard in Winter
~11x14"
Acrylic on panel

Best Photo of 'Gypsy'

Gypsy
27x18"
Oil on canvas

I've been trying for days to get a good photo of this painting. Difficult because of the large dark area and the glossy surface, plus all the snow on the ground is very bright. All this makes for glare. Today the sun came out at long last. I set it on it's side right on the gravel drive so the sun was at a raking angle across the surface. This is the best way to defeat glare without a professional photo studio. I under exposed by two stops. Compare this with the one on the 11th.

Fun with Painter...

Corel Painter Essentials4. After cropping and adjusting in Paintshop, the image was further
manipulated with various brushes in Painter, overall treatment and selected areas.

See fine art prints available at Fine Art America. On paper or canvas, optional matting, framing and glazing.

Posted by Robert Bissett at 5:05 PM

A Book Review

CAVE PAINTINGS AND THE HUMAN SPIRIT:
THE ORIGIN OF CREATIVITY AND BELIEF,
Prometheus Books, $25.98,
by Dr. David S. Whitley

     30,000 years ago accomplished artists left amazingly accurate and sophisticated depictions of a world long gone. The Chauvet Cave drawings referred to in this book are far older than those at Lascaux. Whitley attempts to explain the origins of art and religion by citing the latest archaeological evidence and findings of neuroscience. He suggests a new understanding of shamanism, artistic creativity, myth and religion.

     One reviewer says, ‘For those who love mysteries that are unraveled through careful thought and twists in a story, this book is a must. For those like to sink their teeth into details that nobody else has written about, let alone done painstaking research, this book is a must. But most importantly, it is just a fun read.’

     Lots of mammals were considered interesting enough to record way back then. Cave bears, ibexes, lions, horses, but no people. Seems odd to us. Wildlife art is still popular, but Art Business Today tells us that it is only number eight out of the top ten best-selling subjects. The top three are landscapes, local views and semi-abstract landscapes. Number four is abstracts, followed by dogs, figure studies and number seven: seascapes, harbor and beach scenes. Next is wildlife, then impressionistic landscapes and finally nudes. Notably absent is religious art.

     Why do Whitley and his fellow academics insist that cave drawings must have some religious significance? Religious art today is nothing more than a niche market. His thesis says far more about Whitley’s modern mind set and world view than it does about the cave artists themselves.

   The last ice age ended about twelve thousand years ago. Prior to that it was cold and winter lasted a long time. Since archaeologist have not found enough burnt wood to prove long term occupation they tell us the caves were used only for ceremonial events. Therefore, the cave drawings had to have been religiously motivated. Does that make sense? Caves would have offered by far the best chance to make it through the winters unless they went south. Bear in mind that around the world people still live very comfortably in caves all year. 

     Here in north Idaho we heat with wood. It’s common knowledge that the best way to start a fire is to use the burnt wood from the previous fire. In a thousand years when they dig up our fireplace and date the charcoal will they conclude we only used it briefly and therefore it was ceremonial?   

       In the lion drawings I see an art workshop. The lion head on the left was done by the master. The three to the right are copies of the master by three different people. Notice how they took advantage of the suggestive defects in the rock. Cave paintings appear to be embellished pareidolia.

     We have all seen animals in clouds, natural rock and else where. The cow jumping over the moon is a well known example. Don't we love to point out pareidolia to others? My suspicion is that those long ago artists were a lot like artist today. They did artwork for their own amusement and to amaze others.

     Soon as a child can stand and hold a crayon, what do they do? That’s right, they draw on the wall! Does anyone teach them to do that or do they mimic adults? Nope, completely instinctive. A natural, pleasant, interesting and very human way to pass the time. A nice change from telling stories around the camp fire. 

See inside this book at Amazon.com. Read another review.

See fine art prints available at Fine Art America. On paper or canvas, optional matting, framing and glazing.

Posted by Robert Bissett at 1:59 PM

Portrait, First look...

See fine art prints available at Fine Art America. On paper or canvas, optional matting, framing and glazing.

Posted by Robert Bissett at 7:42 PM