NEW RELEASE FROM ROBERT BATEMAN

"Reconciliation - Ravens" 2004 - 24" x 60"
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"One of the wonderful sights in the kingdom of birds is the aerial acrobatics of ravens. These are often accompanied by surprising and complex vocalizations.
For years I have been trying different ways to paint these dramatic black birds. Recently I was looking through my art books and happened upon a large, soft-covered book describing the development of a single painting by Robert Motherwell. Motherwell, along with Franz Kline and Clyfford Still, is one of my favourite abstract painters. The painting in question, which was installed in the National Gallery in Washington, DC, is called "Reconciliation Elegy".
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Because I am a naturalist and have been looking for a flying raven idea for years, a light popped on in my brain. I used Motherwell's composition as a starting point and added my own photo reference and sketches to come up with the final piece. I included the word reconciliation in my title as a respectful tip of the hat to Robert Motherwell. Perhaps the ravens have had a nuptial spat and are now reconciling."

"Raven Roost" 2006 - 60" x 54"
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"Often I am asked, especially by artists, where the ideas for my paintings come from. Out of the blue could be an answer. One was a red turban in front of a terra cotta wall – 'Cardinal and Sumac.'  'Cardinal and Wild Apples' grew out of Joni Mitchell’s song 'The Big Yellow Taxi.' Abstract artist Clyfford Still’s work has inspired several paintings, 'Mountain Goat – Sheer Drop,' 'Descending Leopard,' and 'Wadi Arava – Israeli Wolf.'  

Last year while visiting the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art I saw another Clyfford Still incorporating a large black patch with little jagged windows of deep blue. The idea for a big Douglas Fir at night came to me at once. The sleeping ravens were an obvious added touch since we have both large fir trees and ravens on the hill above our house."

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