The Starry Night #4

8” X 10” X 1.5”

Acrylic on Canvas 

Many years ago, when I was a young man, I was captivated by the style, stories and serenity of Van Gogh’s work. I had known about him casually since I was a small boy. I even studied his life and career in college and art school. But I never paid much attention until one day, many years later.

It was on a crisp autumn day in our Seattle apartment. I sat at our dining room table and began work on a self-portrait. I had done many such portraits in the past, especially in classroom settings, but this one was different from all the rest, this rendering was special.

I sat in front of a mirror wearing a straw hat and a silly grin while holding up an apple core in my left hand. It was a small drawing, about 7”X5” and rendered in Prisma color pencil on colored paper. It was a very textural drawing. I used pencil line patterns like painted brushstrokes. When the drawing was completed, something about it seemed familiar. It’s like I had seen it once before, at least something like it.

I thought back to art school and Van Gogh’s self-portraits. With my trimmed, reddish beard, and distinct linework, I drew a comparison between his work and mine. Perhaps it was an unconscious channeling of inspiration, or maybe just coincidence. I got out my old art history books. I looked at the pictures and read the stories about Vincent Van Gogh, the passion, the diligence, and the misfortunes. I then purchased an extensive biography on Van Gogh from a local bookstore and immersed myself in his unique art and tragic life story.

A while back, I was contemplating my work and wondered what it would be like to create my own versions of historic works of art in my geometric, abstract style. My first interpretation was “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh. The piece sold in less than a week of completion. Since then, I’ve finished ten Starry Nights so far in different sizes and formats. They have been very popular.

It’s been a long time since those drizzly Seattle days. Every time I look at my versions of Starry Night, or create a new one, I think of that apple grin, and smile.