School of Photorealism

Date:	1995
Medium:	Oil on canvas
Size inches:	44 x 48
Size cm:	111.8 x 121.9
Signature:	Signed and dated lower center
Location:	Private Collection, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

 

March 1 (1995) Wednesday
I continue to work on Photo Realism and skip in highlights in the closely rendered images because that locates the proportions. I am interested in the visit of Everne Spiegel to see if she understands what I am doing with the School of Photorealism.
March 2 Thursday
Mrs. & Mrs. Spiegel, Jim and Everne, arrived at 11:00 AM to see the "School of Photorealism." She is attractive and alert, he is typical: suited, no shape, but wise. When he saw that I used Audrey Flack, he asked for more "Flack," and actually talked about an Audrey Flack painting which he has some personal interest in. He asked me to include that painting. Nancy Hoffman arrived a bit later and helped the situation, later she telephoned to explain how the price was set. I have re-arranged the painting in order to include Jim Spiegel's suggestion.
Tuesday, March 7
I have completed taking photographs of the dollar bills that are jammed into the ink well of the desk that shows "Royal Flush" of Audrey Flack. However, that's tomorrow. Today I am working on the Charles Bell pinball unit, and this is the first moment I am able to over paint -- it's just starting to look correct. Painted until 6:30 PM.
Wednesday, March 8
I worked on Royal Flush. The photos of the roll of dollar bills are not clear enough, so I've asked Lee Guilliatt to attempt photographing on Friday. I'' go there. Did all I could with Flack's "Vanitas." Although I'm not convinced, it is starting to have the look I hope (it will).
Friday March 10
I went to Lee Guilliatt's to have some money photographed rolled up and inserted in an ink well of a desk -- for School of Photorealism. We rolled some ones and fives and used a blue vase to hold the roll, then photographed them. As I had planned, when I returned here I put the film into the shop which develops it; by 3 PM I had the photos: perfect, and began painting money rolls in an ink well.
Monday March 13
Painted on Photorealism -- just love it.

Jim asked if I might include Audrey Flack's ROYAL FLUSH as one of the paintings I am quoting in SCHOOL OF PHOTOREALISM. ... I took the bills in Flack's painting and rolled them for insertion in the hole for the ink well of the desk. I have been working steadily on the painting since you were here at the beginning of March. I find that rendering each of the artists I am quoting so that I reproduce their techniques is a real challenge, and I am glad to say they are each beginning to look like themselves. (George Deem, letter to Jim and Everne Spiegel, April 24, 1995)

When you suggested that I paint a School of Photorealism you set me off on a long and detailed investigation of the techniques of photorealist painters, including their use of the camera, of projection onto the canvas, and, some of them, of the use of airbrush to achieve their effects. I have not duplicated those techniques. I have not projected images onto my canvas. Instead, my aim has been to create an illusion of photorealist effects. (George Deem, letter to Jim and Everne Spiegel, December 19, 1995)