Michael Mahoney
mj-mahoney@wiu.edu
Macomb, Illinois
mj-mahoney@wiu.edu
Macomb, Illinois
Artist Statement:
“I myself am fully convinced that the best
explanation an artist can give of his aims and
ability is afforded by his work.” Henri Matisse
I begin with this quote because I am loath to write
a statement about my work and feel justified
when ducking behind Monsieur Matisse.
Represented on this site are examples of some
of my still life painting in pastels. What can I say? I
love painting. I love still life painting. That still life
has a long history and tradition appeals to me.
That it has vigorous practitioners to this day
appeals to me. I can speak for hours about
paintings I’ve seen, ones I like and ones I dislike,
about ideas and theories and motives. But I
cannot explain conclusively why I am attracted to
the genre and I, too, am convinced that my work
offers the best explanation of what it is that I hope
to do with it. Nevertheless, I end with a quote
about Chardin that nicely expresses some basic
ideas I have:
“That a painting could succeed without the need
for a pretext, a story or underlying idea, that it
could render with wonderful precision not only the
physical reality of things but also the intensity of
our emotional relationship with them, that was the
truth so subtly revealed by Chardin.” Helene
Prigent and Pierre Rosenberg, Chardin, An
Intimate Art
“I myself am fully convinced that the best
explanation an artist can give of his aims and
ability is afforded by his work.” Henri Matisse
I begin with this quote because I am loath to write
a statement about my work and feel justified
when ducking behind Monsieur Matisse.
Represented on this site are examples of some
of my still life painting in pastels. What can I say? I
love painting. I love still life painting. That still life
has a long history and tradition appeals to me.
That it has vigorous practitioners to this day
appeals to me. I can speak for hours about
paintings I’ve seen, ones I like and ones I dislike,
about ideas and theories and motives. But I
cannot explain conclusively why I am attracted to
the genre and I, too, am convinced that my work
offers the best explanation of what it is that I hope
to do with it. Nevertheless, I end with a quote
about Chardin that nicely expresses some basic
ideas I have:
“That a painting could succeed without the need
for a pretext, a story or underlying idea, that it
could render with wonderful precision not only the
physical reality of things but also the intensity of
our emotional relationship with them, that was the
truth so subtly revealed by Chardin.” Helene
Prigent and Pierre Rosenberg, Chardin, An
Intimate Art
| Still Life with Crow and Hat, 2008, pastel on paper, 22 ½ x 30 inches |
| Still Life with Hat and Metronome, 2008, pastel on paper, 28 ¼ x 21 inches |
| Still Life with White Pot, 2008, pastel on paper, 28 ¼ x 20 ½ inches |
| Still Life with Crow and Oilcan, 2008, pastel on paper, 20 ¾ x 28 ¼ inches |
| Still Life with Vinegar Bottle, 2008, pastel on paper, 21 x 28 ½ inches |
| Still Life with Pestle and Metronome, 2008, pastel on paper, 28 ½ x 20 ½ inches |
