Customer Reviews

Walton Ford: Tigers of Wrath, Horses of Instruction

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Tigers of Wrath, Horses of Instruction" (the title is from William Blake) is the first monograph of the work of Walton Ford, a contemporary, New York-born painter whose enormous, Audobon-inspired watercolors are among the most beautiful, most thoughtful, and most disturbing works produced today. His often baffling work, examining global culture clashes told through fantastically-rendered paintings of exotic birds and animals, is very well explicated in a scholarly introductory essay by Steven Katz and a useful interview with the artist conducted by Dodie Kazanjian. All in all, this is probably the most gorgeous book you'll see this year.

Walton Ford's watercolors are among the most beautiful offered by any contemporary artist today. The context of each work is intelligent, thoughtful and imaginative while the execution of each work is brilliant. The book's release is in conjunction with a major exhibition of recent work by Walton Ford at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York City in October 2002. Serious art collectors, museum curators and art lovers should purchase a copy of the book for their libraries: the book is certain to become a collectors item.

Ford is a master painter -- although I imagine one must see his work in person to appreciate the fabulous detail -- and the book is a great and affordable way to have his work in the house.

Walton Ford's paintings are hauntingly beautiful. The first time I began to see reproductions of Ford's work in Art in America, I knew we had a bold new talent to challenge our sensibilities.

The large watercolors; enhanced with colored inks, pencil, and gouache, are superb. The play with the naturalistic sensibilities of John James Audubon's nature paintings, but always have a dark, sinister, commentary hidden in the sub-text.

The paintings are of incredible beauty, masterfully drawn, formal and structured, pristine and realistic. Yet odd forces of death, violence, and pain lurk just below the surface. The compositions and the tight use of the watercolor and ink medium create a discomfort and tension that places the works fully in the 21st century. They are Audubon combined with Kafka. The beauty draws you in and then you get caught by the sub-text, the evil little traps hidden in each work.

The monograph is full of art, Ford being a highly prolific painter. At least 70 paintings are represented in full color. You will not be diappointed.

A perfeccionist at the most difficult and unyielding of all painting mediums: watercolors, Mr Walton brings a plethora of emotions to his work. You will be delighted, disturbed, challenged and even insulted, but never bored. A surprise every time you see it.