Richard Diebenkorn: Painting with Doubt - Presented by John Seed

A presentation by art writer John Seed discussing artist Richard Diebenkorn's skeptical and probing approach to art making. Originally presented as a webinar for the Winslow Art Center, Dec. 13th, 2021.

[@vjhreeves]

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this presentation! Thank you for sharing this with us. I was an art student back in the '80s and then had a career in graphic design & advertising. During the lockdowns of the pandemic I rediscovered my love of abstract painting and have just been accepted into my first juried show at age 58! I have become slightly obsessed with the mid-century American masters, and RD is right up there for me with Frankenthaler and Twombly. Thank you so much for this deep dive!

[@JohnSeed]

Try my talk on Bay Area Figurative

[@marlenemaier2168]

Thank you so much for this. Diebenkorn was such a master and remains an inspiration.

[@JohnSeed]

Thanks for letting me know that you enjoyed it.

[@suellenmclaughlin5118]

I recently discovered Diebenkorn's work and now I am fascinated by everything Diebenkorn-related. I found the "notes to myself" and printed them out in large lettering in my studio (such as it is). Then I watched your video and was delighted to see that you included those same "notes to myself" in your talk. It was nice to see the handwritten version since I had only seen the words printed. I also loved how you showed what Diebenkorn wrote to himself on his paintings. You gave a true glimpse into the artist and for that I am very grateful

[@JohnSeed]

I really appreciate hearing this: thank you!

[@MrDominickpal]

Excellent! I so appreciate this video! Thank you for creating and offering it. I'll be watching it many times, I'm sure.

[@JohnSeed]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@nathanielmoody3656]

Thank you for sharing this talk. Diebenkorn is such a master, and hearing about his own grapple with doubt is really helpful.

[@rebeccakuri]

Thank you for making this video- I enjoyed it very much :-)

[@JohnSeed]

Nice of you to let me know! John

[@rubenamirian6126]

Excellent presentation.

[@Jonacci]

Thank you so much for this insight and inspiration, this is one of my favourite videos i have found in youtube of lately. Definetly coming back for this one.

[@JohnSeed]

It makes my day to get a comment like this: thank you!

[@slipton6493]

Very insightful and helpful. Gives me more understanding and appreciation for Diebenkorn’s work. Thank you!

[@JohnSeed]

So kind of you to let me know!

[@jeffreyknieser7490]

Thank you for this fantastic talk.

[@petemc5070]

Informative round up of the three stages. Thank you.

[@rhinochaser3193]

When I attended Art Center College of Design, I studied with Richard Diebenkorn. What a sweet, wonderful man.

[@JohnSeed]

I don't think he ever taught at Art Center. Do you perhaps mean California College of Arts and Crafts?

[@rhinochaser3193]

1974. The old campus on Third Street in Los Angeles. Absolutely

[@JohnSeed]

@@rhinochaser3193 good to know!

[@LucasFRSouza]

One of the best videos of Diebenkorn online! Thank you so much. Would you nind sharing from where do you got tthe quotes from Richard?

[@JohnSeed]

Thanks Lucas! I believe that most of the quotes came from the Diebenkorn Foundation website. Some were also found on their Instagram feed. instagram.com/diebenkornfoundation/

[@LucasFRSouza]

@@JohnSeed thanks for the response! Here in Brazil we have a hard time getting bay area artists' information and resources

[@JPL243]

Really enjoyed your commentary, John.

[@JohnSeed]

Very kind of you to let me know!

[@musungu79]

Thank you from Italy!

[@JohnSeed]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this Alan!

[@musungu79]

@@JohnSeed Thank you John, i am entering now in the world of Diebenkorn, i was about to buy a book (Retrospective) but then i wanted to hear some introduction and your was simple perfect! I will follow you channel for more. Greetings!

[@annebrunelle3305]

Thank you for this very interesting analysis. You are a fantastic teacher.

[@JohnSeed]

Thank you Anne!

[@lukehanley5392]

Spacial paradoxes.

[@lesliecunliffe4450]

Doubt is the wrong word to use about Cezanne. Revision would be better. In this regard, Cezanne follows on from Daumier who made drawings analogous to modelling in clay as opposed to modelling in stone. This approach dominated Modernism. Also, the quote from Hughes is confusing. It conflates 'seeing' with representation. We all see perfectly well, and if our seeing becomes less accurate we get our eyes to be checked. That is why revisions to a work in progress only make sense when art operates by representation as opposed to seeing.

[@JohnSeed]

Thanks Leslie, for a very insightful response.

[@marypartridge5154]

His paintings to me are very lonely and detached. And his figures seem awkward. He has a great sense of colour but overall they are important because to me they show the loneliness and detachment of American society. I see a nice man who was full of doubts which makes a change from a lot of Americans who appear over confident.

[@JohnSeed]

Hi Mary, I think your comments are astute. When Diebenkorn was starting out he greatly admired Edward Hopper who really was the master of American loneliness.