Dan Deibler: The Figure

F&M Art major Dan Deibler '12 decided to tackle the human body as an independent study with professor Kevin Brady. The fruits of that one-semester project were recently on display at the Phillips Museum. Six large drawings document the learning process from charcoal to large oil paintings.

The portrait on the left has been haunting me for the last few weeks. It is one of the most accomplished pieces that I've seen at F&M. I keep returning to the triangular red shirt and the triangular shadow on the face. The snap shot does not tell the full story. The oil painting has a physical reality that engages the viewer with varying psychological scales. In many ways, the real painting is the best argument for painting. Interestingly enough, Deibler is also a master of the unreal, too, in computer design. I hope Dan has no room to store this work and he will let us hang it in the Alumni House to show everyone how great art can be made.

See some more photos from Deibler's opening reception here.