Debate: Should contemporary artists paint in the Italian Renaissance style?

By Ron Swarner on January 17, 2014

Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clayton's review of Carla Paine's portraits and still-lifes has sparked a debate on Facebook. Clayton praises her talent, and recommends readers see the show at Olyphant Art Supply in Olympia.

That said, Clayton questions why the paintings were created.

The paintings are impressive, but they make me wonder why. Why would a 21st century painter make pictures that look like they came out of an Italian Renaissance studio? It has all been done before, and just as well if not better. Van Eyck did marvelous things compositionally, and he pictured every day reality in an honest if staged manner. Paine's paintings are definitely staged, warm and comforting, but beyond technical showmanship and nostalgia for a time she could never have known I question the reason for these paintings.

Is Clayton spot on or out of his gourd? If you have thoughts on Clayton's criticism, visit his Facebook and chime in.