Bio:
My journey in the world of Art began as a child, accompanying my mother to MOMA. I was particularly intrigued by Ad Reinhardt’s Black paintings (and Reinhardt said that real art is “unphotographable”). In the 60’s I began to make small ink drawings, combining imaginary images with words. That practice has evolved to sketches from life with bits of dialogue.
Rothko and Pollock were early inspirations, and I still look at Kline and particularly, Ben Wilson. Dissatisfaction with my own efforts at abstract painting led me to study traditional methods.
These oil paintings have roots in the two kinds of alla prima technique described in Max Doerner’s Materials of the Artist and their Use in Painting, as taught to me by Francis Cunningham and Lennart Anderson. I love Constable’s call “to be a natural painter” and the sense of presence in Rembrandt, and I am fascinated by the remnants of culture and change in the city; but my work mostly grows out of an effort to observe color tones and leave them as marks, blotches, and scrapes on canvas or board. The work has evolved from the process, which includes sketches, measurement, an initial drawing with charcoal, and is influenced by my background as a sculptor.
—Bob Feinland, Aug. 4, 2023.
cv:
Solo shows: CHAI Gallery (3), Synagogue for the Arts, New Gallery at the Educational Alliance, Nicholas Roerich Museum.
Three Person Shows: Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery (Haverford College), Brownson Gallery (Manhattanville College), Vorpal Gallery (New New York), PS 122 Gallery (curator) Selected Group Shows: Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, Butler Museum of American Art, Audubon Artists (3 gold medals), Century Association, Provincetown Art Association and Museum, A M Adler Fine Art. National Academy.
Shows curated: Police Building Gallery, NY Mercantile Exchange (first post 9/11 show at Ground Zero).
Selected Bibliography: Jewish Press Magazine (Apr 26, 2012), article and cover, Philadelphia Inquirer (July 30, 2006), “paintings with feeling,” NY Daily News (Nov. 21, 1997, “Museo Drive,” N Y Times (Mar 23, 1990), painting reproduced on First Page of Weekend Section to illustrate Roberta Smith article.
Employment: Educational Alliance Art School (Chaim Gross studio assistant), NY Academy of Art, formerly New Brooklyn School (taught painting, drawing, sculpture), The DOOR: Center of Alternatives (created art workshop for young people), All Metal Chocolate Mold Co. (sculptor). Education: MFA (Brooklyn College), BA (Haverford), Art Students League (Robert Beverly Hale, Francis Cunningham—option award), Educational Alliance (Harvey Citron), New Brooklyn School and Pratt Institute (anatomy and drawing, Salvatore Montano, Alphonse Solimene).
Brooklyn Museum Art School (Kendall Shaw, color theory).