Carrollton Library and Arts Council launch first Art Talk

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My recent work is a marriage between landscape and figurative, explained the 63 year old CHS alumni painter and pastelist Joe Tonnar. In his rendition of Breaking Up (first created by Winslow Homer) Tonnar gained a better understanding of what it means to paint with oils.Many careful recordings in pencil and charcoal of the surrounding hills and farmland were necessary in his early work. This particular drawing started much smaller. He returned to the site a number of times to get every detail right. As he gained confidence he was able to assemble his studies into a more comprehensive work. It's not something he would repeat these days, he said, but it was what he was interested in at the time. Those studies paved the way for the looser, more musical expressions that he currently works with."When I look at an outdoor landscape," Tonnar instructed, "I see it like everyone else, but I FEEL it too...I can feel it turning---rolling---blowing----moving in and out." He identified with the work of Kandinsky, who often brought figurative and landscape elements together. He admired the rich palette and freeness of brushwork done by Soutine."Here are the materials I work with." Tonnar showed a box of soft pastels with the audience Saturday morning.

The Conference Center in the lower level of the Carrollton Public Library was set up to show a 15 minute video on Tonnar at his Walnut Street studio, and also works on-line from his website.With humor and leisure, Tonnar purused through an assortment of works against the front wall, turned away from the public's view, selected one, and set it on the easel for all to see as he discussed it with those assembled. In attendance were collectors from Kansas City as well as relatives and friends, from the city of Carrollton, Missouri.
What do you do when you get stuck? asked Tonnar's little niece.
When he was in grade school, Joe used to draw planes and tanks and cowboys with his pencil, Tonnar's older sister, Janette Eaglefield recalled. As in all his larger compositions Tonnar worked back and forth to maintain the balance. In Caesar Salad it came down to this particular shape. When done in a darker purple Tonnar became unsettled. Eventually he lightened the shape up, and it pleased him greatly. Sometimes he would rotate a work as he painted, trying it on its side or upside down so as to keep his mind open to its potential and to help him evaluate the composition. Movement is an important element in his work.The audience was invited up to point out a repeated shape or color they saw in this Sweet Life piece.

Art council member Bob Sweeney called the presentation "relaxed." click on triangle to view this video clip.