Which is better art? This wonderful painting by Kirk Seufert, or this photograph of a couple of hot and cold water washer hook-ups?

We'll critique the photo first. Hmmm, where to begin? Well, how 'bout the fact that the viewer can barely make out the connections, and there's no way to determine whether they have been installed correctly (tightened sufficiently, hot to hot, cold to cold, etc.) And why all the unnecessary periphery? Great, there's the exhaust hose/tube/vent thing and a couple of what appears to be overloaded electrical outlets, but I thought we were here to enjoy a photograph of a washer's water connections. Not the entirety of the back of a utility closet. I'm sorry to be so harsh, but, the bottom line is that the photo is not very good, art-wise.

Now let's look at the painting created by an artist, who is quickly becoming well known among his family and friends, Kirk Seufert.

"Melting Hot," a painting so hot that it would appear that it's melting, is, well...hot. Nice use of texture and hue to create the imagery of fire. And yet, there's something liquid about it, giving the viewer a sense that something is melting away. Never to be seen or heard from again. Ever. Now, that's hot. It's also red, which I guess is a hue. But hue or no hue, red is hot. It's just a hot painting. Nuff' said.

So the bottom line is that the photo of the clothes washer's water connection doesn't quite measure up to the quality of "Melting Hot," and thus, "Melting Hot" is better art, a clearly purchase-worthy.

Thanks for reading, and more importantly, taking the time to understand...and go to my other sites...and consider purchasing a painting. Yes, thank you.

Which is Better?

"Stripes of Old" by Kirk Seufert

or

Young chap's method of building and easel

Let's start with "Stripes of Old"

Painted in Seufert's old looking stripes period,

the piece says many things, speaking in a language

of it's own, and thus not interpratable by this critic.

I can say it's pretty if you like old looking stripes.

Actually, if you like old looking stripes, it's beautiful.

Now, let's look at "Young chap's method of building an easel."

First question, "Where's the safety equipment?" Rather than steal toe'd shoes, it's no shoes at all. It's, ah, it's...flippant, no lax.

Yes, lax. And I can assure you, union member or not, I'd have to let him go for fear of litigation.

Second question, "Where are the nuts and bolts to secure this monstrosity?" I can tell you right now, "Stripes of Old" won't be sitting on that easel when it's finished.

Third question...well there really is no need for a third question, because the only important question is Which is Better? And the

clear answer is "Stripes of Old." Yes, I feel sorry for the young lad not being able to afford shoes, but it's a harsh world out there, and he's just going to have to work harder to acquire the appropriate aparrel.

Winner: "Stripes of Old," thus making it quite purchase-worthy.

Thanks for reading. Kirk

Which is better? "Frosted Blue" or Sarah's Trailer

Let's begin with Frosted Blue by Kirk Seufert. Something of a departure from Kirk's usually fiery fare, Frosted Blue soothes the viewer with, well, cool blue frost. The tan swath is something of an enigma, though, leaving critics to wonder "Would not Sand Bar have been a more appropriate title?" To which I blythely respond, "Why don't you try to create a fitting title a mere 3 minutes before a silent auction fund raiser you forgot about?" Of course, I then admit that Sand Bar would have been better, and hand them one of my brochures.

Now, onto Sarah's Trailer. Sure, it's a fine piece of craftmanship. Big, strong, sturdy and big. But to use such a beast to carry art to shows is pure folly. Notice the lack of a top. Listen, I can tell you from experience, doing 75 on a windy, rainy day sans top is quite deleterious to pastels. Thus, I'm going to have to go with Frosted Blue as "better," and thus quite purchase worthy, though it's actually gone, having been fought over at the aforementioned silent auction.

Which is better?

"Melting Grid" by Kirk Seufert

This piece nearly speaks for itself, but as this is a blog...

Captivating with a variety of alluring hues, "Melting Grid" captivates the viewer, then allows him or her to bask in the glow of colors that simply allure.

Attention getter? You bet.

Conversation piece? You better believe it.

However, caveat emptor (which is Spanish or Latin or something - law school was a long time ago - for "watch out, beautiful art purchaser"). Own this painting and others may become green with possibly bitter envy. But then again, maybe you'll enjoy that aspect of owning this piece - Who's to say?

But that's not the question today. The real question is, "Which is better?" "Melting Grid" a.k.a. "The Envy Maker," or "Egg," as discussed below.

"Egg" by Kirk Seufert

Let's cut to the chase. "Egg" is not my best effort. In fact, the more I think about it, "Egg" appears to be some sort of draft of some sort of egg, surely to be used in a different, more aestheically appealing piece.

To my credit, however, "Egg" is shaded rather... well, it's shaded. And, if I were to tell you it's an egg, you'd probably see the resemblance - "Yes, you're right, when I squint a little, it does have an egg-like appearance."

So, while "Egg" is somewhat aplty named, and it is shaded, it simply doesn't stand up to "Melting Grid." Thus, "Melting Grid" is better, and therefore, more purchase-worthy.

Which is better?

"Kashmir" by Kirk Seufert

Would you just look at the texture in this painting? And the hues - warm and warmer. Maybe one of my finest 100 or so pieces, "Kashmir," named after the Led Zeplen song entitled "Kashmir," was created with a desert in mind. It's rich warm hues invite the viewer to relax, and enjoy the setting sun. And yet, the horizontal swath has perplexed many an admirer. Is it meant to say, "the oasis is near," or rather, "run for your life, a band of horse-riding marauders is thundering toward you?" To this question, I always respond, most cryptically, "Who knows?"

Regardless it's a sweet painting placed in a sweet setting -a library, to be exact, contained in a palatial home owned by a wonderul couple who refused to adopt me, recently. "Sure we have the space, but why would we want to adopt a 46 year old artist?" It was a good question.

But the real question is "Which is better?" The wonderful piece, "Kashmir," with all of the fantastic qualities so eloquently detailed above, or

"Push Up Done with Horrible Form" by Kirk Seufert

Let's see, "Kashmir" or the "Push Up Done with Horrible Form." Which is better? I think it's pretty obvious, and if you could see my pectoral muscles, or lack thereof, you'd know that my push up methodology never improved. So....

It's really a no-brainer - "Kashmir" is better...by far, and thus, quite purchase worthy.

Which painting is better?

"Mind Shaft" by Kirk Seufert

Don't be fooled by the wonderfully befitting title. This exquisite piece speaks for itself, leaving the title, with its commendable word play, merely an afterthought. It's a good title, though.
In fact, I'd go as far as saying that "Mind Shaft" is one of the best titles I've ever seen, or read, when bestowed upon a painting such as this beauty.

Sure I could go on and on about the painting's striking use of contrasting color, bleeds and blends, and wonderful textures, but the title...hard to beat. Much unlike the painting below, "Peter the Kitty."





"Peter the Kitty" by someone who left it at the Salvation Army, only to be snatched up by the Museum of Bad Paintings, which now sells prints of it on its MOBA site

Just look at the cat in this painting, will you? It's as though he already knows that his portrait will have a terrible title. The expression is one of an angry human, like my best friend, who also happens to be named Peter, when the dealer hits him with a four after he's doubled down on his 11. Boy, if looks could kill. But hey, this is a cat, and we all know that most cats don't play black jack, or any kind of cards for that matter. So, I really can't get beyond the horrible title and human's face, basically cut and pasted on the body of a painted cat.

Thus and therefore, I must say that my painting is better. Who knows, a more appropriate moniker for this angry feline, and it becomes a coin toss. But that's not where we stand at the moment, so, mine is better, and thus quite purchase worthy.

"Overheated" or "Turkey" Which painting is better?

"OVERHEATED" by Kirk Seufert

I created this piece with a fiery spirit. Hence the title "Overheated." Recognizing the raw passion springing from the multi-textured, flame-hued painting, a hard bargaining Frenchman purchased this piece while we spoke of world events, enjoying a cool glass of limoncello. The painting "spoke to" him, filling the Nice native with inspiration and energy.

Replete with a multitude of plasters and resins, additions and reductions, and the perfect title, I have to say, with all due respect that my painting is better, slightly, but better just the same, than the rendition of a Thanksgiving turkey below.

"TURKEY" by Eddie

First of all, the Turkey painting is much smaller than mine. So if size really does matter in matters of art, then I'm ahead in this contest of sorts from the start. Nonetheless, the Turkey, created in the oft-used hand-print fashion, has many finer points worthy of mention.

The colors are vibrant, though somewhat incongruous and inconsistent (two red tail feathers, then for no explicable reason, a single yellow and single green - why?) Also, it looks like a turkey, so the title is appropriate.

Finally, one cannot argue with the fact that Eddie, the 1st grade artist who created this wonderful imagery, could not have done a finer job of capturing the true emotion of all Thanksgiving turkeys - Intolerable Apprehension!

Still, in the end, mine is better. Kudos to Eddie and his family for the close 2nd, but, mine is better.

Please feel free to comment on either piece or my critique of the two. Other pieces of my art can be viewed at Quixotic Art and/or at the various places referred to in said site.

Eddie's pieces can be purchased through me, Eddie's agent of sorts. And please, with respect to Eddie's work in particular, serious inquiries only.

Until next time, remember, "Gi clee, schmiclee! You're an original individual, so buy an individual original (of Kirk's art)!

Kirk Seufert