Art Walk at Telluride's Stronghouse Studios: Brankley's "Madness" Thursday

For the July ArtWalk, the spotlight is on artist David Brankley, whose concise, compelling paintings are on display at The Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities’  Stronghouse Studios, 283 South Fir (one block south of the Village Market). The artist’s reception is from 5 – 8 p.m.

The theme of Brankley’s show, “A Little Madness,” is underscored by the following quote about Vincent Van Gogh:

The thing is, it was van Gogh’s madness that prevented him from working. As a painter, he was way saner than most. Popular fancy suggests Van Gogh sat in a cornfield or looked out his window in Arles and just channeled his kinetic images. Not true. The guy was a genius, not a cypher. Check out Van Gogh’s drawings as we did for proof. A show at the Met within the last few years proved the artist’s obsession with stylistic precision. Mad, no. Sad, often.

It would be easy to describe David as slightly mad.The guy has no permanent address and few possessions beyond his brushes –  tooth and paint. He has been a passionate vagabond for over 30 years – and an equally passionate painter, whose work hangs on the walls of homes both humble and opulent all over the world. Telluride is simply the place David chooses to spend his summers, because the region has “flavor.” He sleeps in a tent and travels by bike wherever and whenever possible. But David is not mad at all. Better described as a “minimalist” with a gift for rendering what he sees clearly – an uncluttered life has real merit – with an elegant hand influenced by the Impressionists.

To learn more, click the “play” button and listen to David’s interview.