Though landscapes are not his most common subject for paintings, Chuck Rosenthal excels. From Clearwater, Florida, the artist more often paints people...
Though landscapes are not his most common subject for paintings, Chuck Rosenthal excels. From Clearwater, Florida, the artist more often paints people and still life, but his landscapes are definitely worth seeing.
A Rosenthal landscape could light up a room. The scenes he paints are areas that he knows well, distinctively Florida. A principal characteristic of his paintings is the radiant Florida sun – not seen directly but reflected with glowing oranges and yellows against the grasses, trees, water and buildings that decorate his landscapes.
One painting of a building shows a dignified Florida villa, in Bellaire Beach, we assume, since the title of the painting is “Bellaire Beach.” Not only the building and walls themselves reflect the sun, but also the wonderful landscaping of palms and perfectly cared for grass. The colors radiate warmth.
“Florida Waterworld” portrays Florida wetlands and a sprawling white house in the background. The painting is very inviting, although many people would not consider a boggy wetland inviting. The warmth of the reflected sunlight makes the water and flora look like an enjoyable afternoon.
“Houses on the Marshlands” is another Rosenthal landscape with shining yellows and oranges. Typical white Florida houses in the background make the sparkling marsh in the foreground stand out.
“Water’s Edge” shows a reflective lake, autumn trees and again, white houses in the background near the edge of the lake. The colors again mirror the sun. The composition of this painting puts forward the beauty of nature, leaving the creations of man (the houses) in the background.
Most viewers will not be able to ask the artist in person what thoughts inspired him to paint these landscapes. But perhaps we should appreciate that the artist is inviting us to contribute to the artwork by creating your own ideas of what the painting communicates.
What was inspiring to the artist can also inspire you, the viewer.
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Chuck Rosenthal’s well known still life paintings in oils and pastels do not eclipse his other work. Indeed, some of his landscapes and paintings of people in local scenes may outshine his still lifes.
Do you ever wonder what the artist himself has to say about art? Conveniently Mr. Rosenthal has left us an “artist’s statement.”
Artists willing to let us viewers know a little bit about their thoughts on art write an “artist’s statement” and Mr. Rosenthal has done just that. The artist says,
“I believe that truly Fine Art encompasses every aspect of the visual experience, from dramatic, or at least, interesting placement of the elements in the painting to the truest atmospheric values within the capability of the artist. All of this is intended to create an impact on the viewer that is so real as to provoke an emotional response. Strong contrasts of form and lighting are an important component.
“Looking at the long view of the development of western art one would see that there is a progression of stiff, awkward drawing gradually developing, over time, into the most sophisticated and articulate forms imaginable.
“Fortunately, traditional values in art are undergoing a revival in our time and I am greatly pleased to be a part of it.”
In 1963 Chuck Rosenthal set out to become a commercial artist. He studied at the National Academy of Design in New York City. He wanted to learn how to draw in order to do illustrations, but three months of study caused the idea of commercial art to go out the window and he decided to pursue fine art. Part of this decision was due to his teacher and mentor, Morton Roberts, who was an excellent illustrator and fine artist himself.
He received many awards while at the National Academy. He was given a scholarship and a few years later he received the Dr. Weller student prize for fine art. Another of his teachers, Daniel Greene, procured him a membership to the esteemed Salmagundi Club, the oldest arts and letters club in the US, where Mr. Rosenthal was awarded an honorable mention in their 1968 scholarship membership contest.
During the intervening years, Mr. Rosenthal painted off and on, learning, but unable to devote the kind of time necessary to achieving a career in fine art. Progress toward the possibility of achieving a career was further delayed by illnesses in the family over a period of about 15 years.
However, in recent years, since moving from New York to Clearwater, Florida, the goal of working as a fine artist has come to fruition. A pastel painting he did of a local landmark, the Clearwater Memorial Bridge, was purchased by a corporation and donated to the Clearwater City Hall. He’s won several awards since 2000, in Clearwater Fine Arts shows, and his paintings of the bridge was included in an international juries competition.
Park Place Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri exhibits Mr. Rosenthal’s paintings.
