DPW Spotlight Interview: Stuart Glazer

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Stuart's painting "Happy Travels" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Stuart's DPW Gallery Page:

Stuart Glazer is a native of Detroit, MI and currently resides in Boca Raton, FL. He comes from a family of artists and musicians. His grandfather was an accomplished artist who influenced Glazer throughout his early childhood. During his adolescence Glazer took art instruction from regionally-known artists Ben Glicker and Robert Dowd, and majored in art at a high school for the arts in Detroit. Later, Glazer embraced music, following the path of his parents who were both musicians. Glazer's Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music were from Eastern Michigan University. He received his Ph.D. in Fine Arts from Texas Tech University. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting. 

When I was a kid, my grandfather, who was a painter, gave me drawing lessons. Later, I took Saturday lessons with Ben Glicker, a Detroit-based artist, and began learning to paint in oils.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

Yes, I did. While in high school, I gave up art for music. I subsequently made a career as a college music professor and composer. During that time, I continued art endeavors, mostly in pastels. I’ve always been torn between art and music. I subsequently received a Ph.D in Fine Art from Texas Tech University. I chose that program because it included coursework in both art and music. About 15 years before retirement, I started painting again and found I loved it, and I’ve been painting ever since.

Happy Travels
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Stuart's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I enjoy painting with acrylics and have stayed with that. I’ve experimented in many styles chronologically. At first I worked in a style called Linear Expressionism, founded by a friend of mine, the French artist, Jean Claude Gaugy. Next, I was painting in realism. Later, I worked in a style that is sort of neo-cubist and very colorful, almost Fauvist. I still do this style, but have added more colorful expressionistic portraits of musicians (mostly jazz) and other popular icons. I’ve recently added non-objective abstracts to my repertoire. Now I work in three styles – neo-cubist, expressionistic portraits, and abstracts.

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

Linear Expressionism and Realism have fallen away. The others have stuck.

Asian Autumn
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I’d like to explore abstraction more. I feel that I can also go further with the portraits.

Who or what inspires you most?

The work of other artists inspires me most. Namely, Picasso, Matisse, and some abstract artists as well.

Zen
(click to view)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I’ve never had a problem with procrastination.


What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art? 

When I was teaching, I painted in the evening and all day during summers. Since I retired from teaching, I paint just about every day. I feel best when I’m painting.

Jerry Garcia
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

I usually make notes or sketches in the morning of what I want to do next, or what I need to do on a piece in progress.



How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

That’s not a real problem for me because I go back and forth in the three styles I work in, although I found lately that more and more I work with palette knives as a new way of working.



John Coltrane
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

Since I got a late start, I’m always learning. Right now I’m still learning about abstraction, how to convey a message without a subject. I find that fascinating. 


What makes you happiest about your art?

Two things make me happy about my art. First, I’m happy when I finish a piece that I feel is really good. Second, when I’m working on something and it’s really going good, as if the piece is painting itself. That feels really good.

Thanks, Stuart!

© 2019 Sophie Marine