Worcester’s Don Hartmann Juxtaposes Humor and Real Emotion

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

oil, acrylic and encaustic on panel 48"x 48"

Worcester's Don Hartmann admits he has a dark sense of humor, and this comes out in his art. In the same vein, he does not take himself too seriously.

"Art snobs bore everyone," he remarks bluntly.

"I’m not into the vanity aspect that seems to be plaguing the art scene in any city lately," he continues. "Everyone should have fun again... I want to rule the art scene where there is no art scene; paint for anyone who wants art on their walls."

There is no doubt that Hartmann himself has fun with his work. He enjoys being an artist, he says, even if he doesn't appreciate a few of those vanities that come with it. But just because he has this rather unique approach to his work, doesn't mean he isn't producing real, imaginative and important art. Specifically, he likes to emphasize duality.

"It's about juxtaposition," he says.

"I guess I want to confuse and confess at the same time, or situation comedy mixed with real emotion."

His Method and Style

He accomplishes this task through painting large-scale subjects on wood. He claims he has to make up for a lack of innate talent.

"I use oil paint with wax and Japan dryer, and try to use as primitive tools possible after the initial drawing. I want them to look like cakes I guess. Lots of paint," he says.

"I paint but I’m really not a good painter. The image I’m trying to capture is first, rendering, then I try my best to make other painters think I can really paint," he jokes again.

He mentions Jasper Johns' use of wax medium as a specific influence.

The process by which he chooses which subjects to tackle in his work also emphasizes that same duality mentioned above, juxtaposing the real and the false, the beautiful and the grotesque, the big and the small, and the good and the evil, but the humor always remains.

"I mix my own past with heroes of mine, enemies of mine, crushes I had when I was eight; teachers and step parents. It all gets thrown together to make a new situation, or a false new reality," he remarks.

"My style is really about enlarging what might be commonplace to make it more grand, or nasty, or pretty."

To put it simply, he takes what is ordinary and mundane, and makes it extraordinary in a numerous amount of different. His finished works are slightly abstract but still quite representational.

Sure Hartmann is humble but he has had great success. He has been exhibiting his large-scale paintings at shows and galleries in the area since 2001. Locally, some of his work is currently on display at the Franklin Square Society Salon Gallery at the Hanover Theatre, an exhibit entitled "Uncomfortable Silence" running through September 23rd. He will also be doing a show in September of 2014 with his friends Jamie Johnson, John Buron, Brian Burris, and Jonnie Coutu at the Sprinkler Factory Gallery.

For more information on Don Hartmann and to view his work please visit his website or find him on Facebook.