Ordinary Saints

Firefly: Mary Herman
2014, oil and alkyd on canvas;
48″ x 36″

After many years of working with the human figure in an implicit narrative context, I decided to try to paint particular persons (instead of “types” or generalized figures that are subservient to the narrative). The traditional posed portrait was not what I was after, rather I wanted to make an image that seemed to mediate the “real presence” of the person (as opposed to an idealized or flattering portrayal). When I completed the painting of my father, I suddenly remembered my childhood desire as a young artist: to make a painting of a person that “felt” like them even more than simply reproducing a likeness. I’ve included a couple formal portrait commissions I’ve done for comparison. The requirements of formal institutional portraiture were a challenge but I believe that I managed, in spite of these constraints, to communicate something of the person there as well.

Ben
2014, oil and alkyd with silver leaf on wood;
30″ x 30″

Cameron Anderson
2014, oil and alkyd with gold leaf on wood;
30″ x 30″

Freya ©Bruce Herman, 2016. Oil on board with gold and silver leaf

30″ x 30″

Jac

©Bruce Herman, 2016. Oil on board with gold leaf

30″ x 30″

Jeremy Begbie

©Bruce Herman, 2017

oil on board with silver leaf; 30″ x 30″

Kenny – collection of Walter and Darlene Hansen

©Bruce Herman, 2017

oil on board with silver leaf; 10″ x 16″

Malcolm Guite

©Bruce Herman, 2017

oil on board with gold leaf; 30″ x 30″

Meg

©Bruce Herman, 2017

oil on board with gold leaf; 30″ x 30″

Naomi Gray
2014, oil and alkyd with silver and gold leaf on wood;
30″ x 30″

Osamu Fujimura
2013, oil and alkyd with silver and gold leaf on wood;
30″ x 30″

Sarah
2015, oil and alkyd on canvas;
46″ x 46″

Scott Cairns
2014, oil and alkyd with silver and gold leaf on wood;
30″ x 30″

Shared Motif Shaw family

The Shaw Family
2017, oil and alkyd with silver and gold leaf on wood;
60″ x 60″

collection of Bruce and Bonnie Shaw, Dallas Texas

Golden Shadow Box (portrait of Susie Chan) commissioned by Kevin Chan

2018, oil and alkyd with silver and gold leaf on wood;
60″ x 60″

collection of Kevin and Ann Chan, Pasadena, CA

Walter Hansen
2014, oil and alkyd with silver leaf on wood; 30″ x 30″

collection of Walter and Darlene Hansen

Will (QU4RTETS No.1 (Spring);
oil and gold/silver leaf on wood;
97″ x 60″

Artist's Father

Portrait of the Artist’s Father: William C. Herman
2013, oil and alkyd on wood; 30″ x 48″

Artist's Mother

Portrait of the Artist’s Mother: Ruth Herman
2010, oil and alkyd with gold leaf on wood; 48″ x 20″

Portrait of the Artist

Portrait of the Artist: Bruce Herman
ca. 2011 oil and alkyd on canvas;
48″ x 36″