Welcome to the online gallery featuring the art of Steve Chantos. I use traditional methods and techniques - oil and acrylic paints, charcoal, etc. - to explore contemporary themes and issues, although many are obviously timeless. My main m.o. is integrating humor into the work when possible. I find irreverence, tastefully done, irresistible.
I've included a youtube video on this site which is not my original work. It's not intended as a political statement but rather for reinforcing a characterization made in one of the paintings.
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Click on an image to enlarge it. Enjoy.
Warmer - 30" x 40", oil on canvas. Toasty transient or supernatural sentinel? Or maybe something to do with creating one's own reality - note the actual heat source (brightest objects) and lack of cast shadow from the burn barrel on his lower coat. Hint, hint. Hard to discern from this repro, I know. Only one thing's for certain - the choice of the bowler hat I owe to Beckett...Sheer Shears and Hope Rope - a.k.a., Flying Fickle Fingers of Fate (to borrow from the old Laugh-In sketch comedy show) - 18" x 24", acrylic, charcoal and oil on canvas panel
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Old Master's Revulsion (after untitled Rembrandt etching) - 24" x 18", oil on canvas panel (NFS) Still looking for a suitable frame for this. Once framed, it will feature several hanging exhibition catalogs and books with work by some or all of the following: Koons, Prince, Schnabel, Salle, Kippenberger, or similarly inane, art-world darlings.Dubya - 25" x 30", oil and acrylic on canvas. George W. Bush made the office of President of the United States (and the U.S. in general) an international joke. I figured, why not return the favor in some small way. For those who feel this painting is perhaps a mean-spirited exaggeration, I've included the video below. You'll see I've actually shown a good deal of restraint... |
To be fair, a few of his comments here are taken out of context but the majority of these gaffes are legit and show a small portion of the inspiration for the painting above entitled Dubya. I'm not sure who came up with the term "stupidicy," but as a "Bush-ism" it seems perfectly appropriate. Now watch as Dubya's "wings take dream" in this video. There can be no "tarriers (and bariffs)" on an intellect such as this! Thank god we gave this man's "chance a plan to work" for two terms. So, to answer his probing question, "Is our children learning?" Yes, Mr. President, I believe we all is! How else could we become "The Breast and Brightest"?
As mentioned, this painting wasn't motivated by politics as much as just sheer amazement that a guy like this could be elected president. Congratulations, America! |