So why the fascination now with the sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin now ? How can old friends that you've been familiar with for decades totally fade from one's memory ? Obviously in this instance they simply can not. Around age 14 I entered an art museum and was confronted by St John The Baptist by Auguste Rodin. It was both the physicality and technical frailty of the surface combined with this otherworldly presence that drove me back everyday for over a month with my new obsession. Details of toes and fingers ,gestures ,images out of a halo ,solidly constructed planes and volumes from every angle came into being on countless sheets of sketchbook paper took place to my enjoyment .I could look at people and visualize how my pal Rodin would sculpt them -nude or clothed! Even the older museum guards used to make fun of me being their so much that I went to the chief of security to tell them to back off, and it worked! My artistic and cultural curiosity have taken me to several countries over time and a few times I could not help shocking myself by pulling out the pencil and paper to draw while a cheap plaster cast of the Head of Balzac in my studio was featured in another series of still lives, but surrounded with colorful fruits and vegetables which gave the mountainous Balzac a great pleasure to think about on his nighttime wanderings... lol. Do you sometimes feel like you lived in a different era? Michelangelo hovered over my right shoulder while painting watercolors in the Boboli Gardens in Florence.
As I reflect on this now could we have met through Rodin? Why not? Camile Claudel is a totally different story as in the last century a French Movie came out regarding her life and I loved it so much that I returned to the theater to witness the spectacle the very next day. At a university library I drew from any images that I could uncover and found she had a subtler vision yet combined with a more worldly view than Rodin. She combined her use of materials in a more contemporary way with the variations in colors and materials that would have a tremendous appeal to a truly burgeoning artist such as ...take a guess. And then I experienced a few pieces in New York City years later. The Wave, Profound Thoughts, The Implorer were a few of the suggestive titles of her work that allow for such an intense contemplation of mystical proportions that who could not be captivated by? Plus her technical ability was absolutely sublime! Enough said for now as the time has come for you to fire up that ingenious imagination and explore my homage to these extraordinary visionaries now ,so enjoy the roller coaster ride.
FOR SALE ---A 28 page mixed media sketchbook using mainly acrylic and lightfast materials and sprayed with additional coats of Archival UV Protection. In addition the front and back covers have original designs and the paper is all acid free with overlapping collaged sheets attached. I thought of this as a book so while the sheets may be torn out and exhibited individually I recommend viewing these in the order displayed as they have grown organically over several wonderfully intense months. Plus there are normally images on both sides as in an illustrated book as well. SIZE---12" tall by 10" wide yet when opened it is 12" by 20" long .Approximate weight is 3 pounds. I will pay for insurance, shipping ,and taxes.
In my career I have always stressed my independent thought process and originality as isn't that the main reason for every artist? Albert Einstein said that the imagination is more important than knowledge but my response was wheat feeds the imagination without prior knowledge? A black hole I reckon! Heha!!! Finally this is a modern tribute with color, devotion, pleasure, mythology, warmth and humor, Castles, animals and nature in many subjective forms and quite honestly A PLEASURE TO BEHOLD! Someday maybe these two folks will tell me how much that they enjoyed this tribute plus I wish the same remarks from you. ABSTRACT NUDES -INSPIRED BY SCULPTORS CAMILLE CLAUDEL AND AUGUSTE RODIN " PROFOUND THOUGHTS ON A BLADE OF GRASS ". CHARLEY EDELMAN -Completed 2 / 2025 *** ****** This is the only unique work as I do not plan on publishing this in the future .******* Price is $6000 for the whole book -parts 1 and 2
