Art Blog #89: When Art Hits Like a Movie: Painting Hollywood Iconic Scenes
23. November, 2024 - Reading time 8 Min. - Andrew Stutesman
#IconicHolywood #MovieScenes #Painting #SamuelLJackson
I've always had a fondness for movies. At an early age I found myself enthralled with stories. Beginning with books and misc elementary school reports, I eventually found myself plopped on the carpet in front of our massive cube side tube screen television. Back before streaming, and merely being lucky enough to catch a movie from the start…
Dopamine Decor: Nostalgia
I've always had a fondness for movies. At an early age I found myself enthralled with stories. Beginning with books and misc elementary school reports, I eventually found myself plopped on the carpet in front of our massive cube side tube screen television. Back before streaming, and merely being lucky enough to catch a movie from the start, I would watch endless hours of TV. I had vintage classics like 'I Love Lucy' and 'Gilligan's Island', and one of my random favorites, "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World". Where I think my infatuation with Hollywood's address in California all began. The vivid colors of the programs from that era mixed with the laid back palm tree vide of Southern California, I just knew I wanted that in my future.
As I've gotten older, that love grew into a career. I eventually made my way in the world of Visual Effects and even got to work on a big budget Marvel film. Something I think that my 9 year old self wouldn't believe. Unfortunately I found myself unemployed during the pandemic, but fortunately it gave me time to revitalize another passion, painting. Before this, I never attempted a portrait because in my experience, I was never any good at it. My Grandmother was gifted in being able to draw anyone's likeness almost at will. She could draw these side profiles from memory like some kind of AI printer. Trying to figure out what to paint, I just wanted to make her proud and hone a craft with my brush. I had all these "cool" pictures I snagged from movies that I thought would make a cool poster to one day print, I said F it and tried my best. To this day I still impress myself.
Art was something I had everyday in my life growing up. Even in high school,they only offered 3 years but I was able to convince my teacher to create a new course so I could take a 4th year. And then in college, even against all my advisors, I minored in Art. Because why not? And in the years since the pandemic, I've made a vast portfolio and digital source for me to showcase and even sell my work. Another hard to believe scenario for the starry eyed 9 year old.
I've merged my love for films into my work by taking scenes or characters that I think somehow changed my emotional state through storytelling. Ace Ventura, Happy Gilmore, and the officers of Super Troopers to name a few. Images that make me smile, or laugh, and a few that I think push the edge of tears. It pulls on those memories each of created when we first experienced the film.
Whether we laughed at a ridiculous trade of a dog-like van for a scooter full of gas or a Doctor in the rain grieving the loss of his partner. When we have such meaningful moments captured in our minds from beautiful storytelling, it's kind of a dopamine hit to be reminded of it. I like to think that we each have unique stories of when we first saw a movie and we love to tell them. My art started as a way of me to tap back into those memories, but it's been equally infectious to hear other people's stories when they see my art. It makes for a great conversational piece.
I like to use bright colors and often abstractly depict details of the composition. Anyway I can add some more life and fun to and already exciting image. I often tell people I can paint anyone, I just paint the famous ones so you know I'm accurate. Which is another takeaway I pride myself in. I battle with perfectionism, but my art is an exercise to help eliminate in my daily life, but that's a different topic.
If you're in the mood for brightening up your mood by brightening up your space, look into some dopamine decor, I offer all my artwork on my website and happy to take on new challenges.
Andrew Stutesman, 2024
