| Title | : | Paintings |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0821226738 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780821226735 |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 148 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1999 |
When an exhibition of paintings by ex-beatle Paul McCartney opened in Siegen, Germany, last year, it seemed designed for critics' sarcasm. After all, Siegen was the birth place of Peter paul Rubens: What could be more offensive to the memory of the great Flemish painter than to have the splatterings of a rock singer presented in his own home city? But, McCartney's intense paintings were greeted by accolades, not jeers. More than ninety percent of the reviews were positive, many of them alluding to the range and sophistication of McCarthy's artwork. This original coffee table-size pictorial collects seventy-five paintings, photographs of the artist at work, and an extended interview with Paul: "I think there's an urge in us to stop the terrible fleetingness of time. Music. Paintings. It's the same with Linda's photos. Try and capture one bloody moment please." Relax, Paul. You've captured a few.
Paintings Reviews
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Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: This has got to be a vanity project. Even knowing McCartney’s background in art (not school) and his insatiable thirst for knowledge, I had to wonder too. In one sense, it is a vanity project; in another, not at all. The volume is tied to an exhibition of his paintings in Germany and I can honestly say that even if the man isn’t who he is in the music world, I understand these paintings being shown.
Along with the reproductions of the paintings, many of which I loved, I enjoyed McCartney’s interview with Wolfgang Suttner, their talk of influences; of process: the blank canvas; the desire to “apply paint,” then sometimes “scratching” to get at what’s under the surface, under the layers; the reason for blank areas. To an artist, the topics might seem facile, I don’t know; but for me it was top-notch stuff. And I related some of it to writing. -
This is my Christmas present from Hannah. I was far more impressed with Macca's work than I thought I would be. It is interesting to me the relationships he has created with other artists and his willingness to rejoice in the work of those who have inspired him. Just as he readily jumps into Little Richard's Lucille, he is quick to acknowledge the influence of DeKooning and others on his painting.
