The Art of Robert Tracy - An Appreciation.by Robert Knapp, Ph.D.
Robert Tracy is a self-taught romantic-realist artist. At the time he began his art career, non-objective art held a near monopoly to the claim of serious art. The art schools were among the staunchest supporters of that monopoly. The choice was to get on board or go your own way. Robert Tracy went his own way.
A casual perusal of his web site will reveal the range of his accomplishment. He has mastered oils, water colors, pencil, silver point, and acrylics. He is equally at home with painting the human figure, still life, portraits, and landscapes. His style is marked by a focused clarity and a keen sense of balance. The subjects are attractive and are intended to be contemplated and enjoyed.
Tracy’s art is not fashionable. It does not seek to shock, affront, distort, deconstruct, or dissolve. It seeks only to invite you in to share his world.
What is that world? For the most part, it is a world of peace and absorption. It is a world of people, and sometimes animals, who are intently focused on whatever they happen to be doing. A girl lovingly holds a cat. Or shoulders a miniature alligator. Or puts on makeup or an earring. Or contemplates a vista. Or reads. Or does homework. A cat stalks its prey. Or looks out the window. Or enters the house seeking attention. Though there can be drama, there is little conflict and usually no social interaction.
© 2000 Robert Knapp. All Rights Reserved
Robert Tracy
Photo of the Artist by his wife, Linda. March 14, 2008.
Married 38 years.
2 daughters: Gretchen, 38. Heather, 34.
3 grandchildren: Dominic, 16. Francesca, 12. And Axel, 3 months.
2 years and 40 days in Vietnam with the Marines.
Graphic by Robert Tracy in Photoshop 7
See Original works for sale at Quent Cordair Fine Art:
Among the many values that art can offer, the subtlest one--and, perhaps, the most inspiring--is the sight of talent, talent as such, the spectacle of human ability actualizing its best potential. In the presence of a great achievement, you feel as if you were seeing two art works: one is the object before you, the other is the artist who made himself capable of creating it. --Ayn Rand
If interested I have a site of my photographs. Haven't put anything new up there for more than a year, but there you can find some of the source images for some of the paintings I submit at deviantArt:
Unsophisticated Photographs
Several of my paintings were inspired by passages in Ayn Rand's book "ATLAS SHRUGGED"
I have supplied the quotes from that book in the relevant paintings. Click the links below to read them.
Galt's Gulch
Benjamin Wylie Grain and Feed
Frozen Train
Good Morning
Multiplying
Old Farm
Moonlit Beach with Marbles
If you're a student you do not have the credentials of a professional art critic. Indeed, even I, who am a professional artist don't have those credentials. Therefore I have never given a critique of another's work. For me it's a matter of does it touch me personally in some way. So I rather say "I like it" and praise someone's work for it's artistic values. However, I never second guess another's work, looking for faults. A professional Art Critic better know the philosophy of Aesthetics and have a degree in journalism. When I say "Critique Not Desired", I mean only this: unless you have the proper training, you shouldn't attempt to nit-pick at another's work. This does not mean that I don't appreciate comments. I do, and I welcome them. A comment is an observation, an insight, an opinion.
See, I recall in college the encouragement of students critiquing other students' works. I knew then I was not qualified to do so and refused to paticipate in this kind of ganging up on an individual.
Moreover, to critique is to criticize. "Criticize": to judge disapprovingly; find fault (with); censure. Webster's New World Dictionary.
In short, a critique--unless specifically requeseted--is impolite.
Alec Guiness with Ale
Tower on the Hill
Looking at You
First Real ID
Art Review―Bio―Various 
Noble
Devious Comments
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
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Stephen Hawking, astrophysicist, re the possibility of aliens: "Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare," He then quickly added: "Some would say it has yet to occur on earth."
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
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VOTE FOR YOUR WINNER: [link]
Best Wishes !!!
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I will pray for you
I will sell my soul for something pure and true
Someone like you...
Thank you very much.
Robert
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
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Checkout My Gallery
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*clickzap!
And thank you for the compliment.
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
Robert
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
It is wonderful to see good realistic art and philosophy on DeviantArt.
Robert
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
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Please do not think me as uninterested in the benefit of self. To be sure I am wholly dedicated to self-preservation and promotion. To be frank, my instructors seem less interested in socialism as they are their courses. I have most who have delved into the subject you warn about I argue most heavily with as they wish to lay down majority rights and uphold minorities to a level higher than all others. Such more than annoys me, especially when they speak of 'equality' when they in fact mean 'superiority'. In fact, those in our government who give back to taxpayers with economic stimulus returns (like what we will get in a few months) are more socialist than these teacher, who merely speak words. Those in our government who act in the benefit of the nation as a whole rather than the individual are indeed socialistic. Republicans and Democrats alike are guilty of this.
So, where do we then stand? How can you and I continue our ability to be wholly and solely individualistic if this country does not exist? How does this country continue to exist if we are supposed to be for ourselves (and those who agree with us) and nothing more? Is it for their own benefit that people enlist in our military? Perhaps. More often than not, those whom I talk with that are military say it is love of their country and fellow Americans. Is this socialism? This answer might be. Now, perhaps I am confusing being self-centered with being selfish. My point is that if someone falls, I will offer my hand to help them up. While I say I do it because of kindness, I must also admit that no one ever does anything without it being for their benefit. Even for those who 'sacrifice', it is because their believe their will get something in the end. Even socialism is based in this principle.
What I have concluded in this is that I speak to help others because it benefits me; thus when it does not benefit me, I do not. This is in line with my actions as of late. I do as I see fit to help myself. This is my form of the self-centered lifestyle. If we expand this out, then those who act for the greater good when it 'does not benefit them' ( or perhaps the better wording would be 'benefits them in the least' ) are in act the one to be aware of.
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"Yeah, $40.00 worth of free..."
*osyris Sakura-Con 2008 Attendee Services Staff: Operations, Dispatch, Lost & Found
I am self-centered, and you better get that way too. Being "self-centered" is simply acting in accordance with one's own interests. If by acting such one benefits others, that's just fine but a secondary accomplishment. I don't give a damn about others, actually, unless another shares my values and wants to pursue his own happiness.
Again, please note everything your teachers say, and challenge them as I did way back when right in the classroom. Or see them at their convenience at office hours. You might be surprised. In my only life drawing class, I took it for two weeks. Then I saw the prof in his office. I told him that not even Michelangelo could do a good job of the full nude figure in 30 seconds. I quit going to class after that. Guess the grade I got? It had to be either an F or an incomplete, right? No, my prof saw the light of my reason. He gave me a C. I never took another life drawing course. This was way back in the 1970's. And I never took a painting course. Went back in 1990 to finish my degree. Had to take two 3-dimenstual courses. One in Sculpture and I chose Ceramics as the other. Both profs refused my attempts at realism--I was not even allowed to make a simple traditional pot. All that was allowed was anything that represented destruction. I stopped going to their classes too, and failed all my courses. However, the Art Department at Purdue did give me Departmental Credit for the work I had done on my own over the years. All they asked for was my brochure of photos of my paintings and a single painting they could view live. I got credit for all four painting courses without ever having attended a second in class.
Teach yourself. And if you must have that degree, I say again: don't just absorb whatever is preached in Academia today as if you don't have a mind of your own. As if you must accept what is given to you as a kind of social osmosis.
Think for yourself. Be self-centered.
And tell the profs who have junk to feed you to go to hell.
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
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"Yeah, $40.00 worth of free..."
*osyris Sakura-Con 2008 Attendee Services Staff: Operations, Dispatch, Lost & Found
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
--
"Yeah, $40.00 worth of free..."
*osyris Sakura-Con 2008 Attendee Services Staff: Operations, Dispatch, Lost & Found
Also, I need to get that book of yours.
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"Yeah, $40.00 worth of free..."
*osyris Sakura-Con 2008 Attendee Services Staff: Operations, Dispatch, Lost & Found
Watch your professors. They too, like the Democrats, are nihilists.
Here's a nice exception from my blog on the date of March 31st, 2008:
[link]
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
Obama is a slick one. Wants to do as much damage to my beloved America as he can get away with.
Hillary is the same.
Neither wants to win the war. Both want to bring more Socialism to America.
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"The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." -- da Vinci
Book: "Art of Robert Tracy" [link]
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