Rackstraw Downes:

Rackstraw Downes

The Pulp Mills at Madison

Untenanted Space in the World Trade Center—Winter Sun


A Stop on the J Line (Alabama Avenue) 2007

             From the images and a short video of Rackstraw Downes, all I can say is that he was a very inspirational and enlighting artist that I've ever come across in my life. He fueled my passion for landscape paintings even more with his precison and texture among other elements. In his artwork he used Oil colors and was 2D artwork of landscapes. He believes he is not a landscape painter but a painter who is of the abstract sense. I chose the images above of his artwork because they all have a curve to them as most of his paintings tend to do. 

               When you think of landscape you think of trees, mountains, bushes, and etc. but he does more with his work; not materialistically but passionately. He isn't satisfied until every aspect, every feature of the landscape is justified and becomes the embodiment of the shades, the shapes and exactness of the landscape (he does this with most of the paintings he has). You should feel emotional when drawing whatever but Rackstraw believes the only feeling that should be present is the respect for what you're drawing. It is your creation and is an artificial extension of yourself, the inspiration created, and the dignity of the landscape. I can tell when it comes to landscape paintings/drawings that artist can be very territorial based off what I've learned from Rackstraw but I can see why he would say that because who'd want another artist painting the same landscape as you are.                         

             You're sharing a moment with the landscape and yourself, an immediate bond that would be disrupted if another artist of similar interest was there. The longer you spend time with the landscape while drawing it you get to learn more about the landscape, your perspective is broaden and you begin to notice bits and pieces of things you never knew was there. It also brings up the question: why did I start at point A rather than Point B? regardless, your first choice of position is what you felt comfortable with or you felt a subtle feel to your position. He believed he wasn't a landscape artist because landscape artists had to move to reinvent themselves. 

           He believes that he's an abstract painter rather than a landscape painter. I mean he did sell his house and many of his art are from many different locations but whatever he thinks he is, the artwork produced is remarkable and utterly amazing in my eyes. Not at all is he interested in spectrum but the quality, the dignity of the layout and the history of the landscape. Something he had said stuck in my head and that's "There is no solution to representation" not sure what that means but I feel its meaning is filled with value. He also had said that when the 3D world goes to the 2D world that you move into metaphor and that perspective is to standardize the depiction of space.

         I think what he means by this is that the art is a figure of speech that gives the landscape a say in the world but that word is depended on the spectator themselves. There are many interpretations of the artwork and it can only be seen through those who have seen it. There is always a reason why you paint, but given time your reason vanishes. I believe its because you're caught in the moment of true bliss and tranquility that art brings that it gives a nostalgic feeling of balance and peace. That's what Rackstraw paints, he paints big spaces of nothingness that are filled with harmony. There is history in everything, Rackstraw wants to capture that history in paintings such as the one's above-- every detail is vital to the representation of the landscape such as the shadows, the curves, the motions shown in the landscape. Each of the detail of the landscape gives its story; its history of belonging,a rich history.