Harry Carmean's magical space form drawings

Harry Carmean spent a lot of time with his friend painter Lorser Feitelson who created a series of "magical space forms" paintings in the late 1940's. Although Carmean is a primarily figurative artist, it was inevitable that through his association with Feitelson he would also develope an interest in the abstract side of art. (To see more of Carmean's abtract side see prior post on Carmean's Hard Edge art). The drawings shown here were done in the 1980's and show the influence of Feitelson's earlier surreal work (top image).

Harry Carmean captured a true "meeting of the minds" in Los Angeles in this photo of art critic Jules Langsner and painters Karl Benjamin, John McLaughlin and Lorser Feitelson. It was at this meeting that the term "Hard Edge" was formulated Also involved in the movement was Feitelson's wife Helen Lundeburg whose paintings can be seen hanging on the wall in the background.

Harry Carmean Hard-edge paintings inspired by Lorser Feitelson

Harry Carmean and Lorser Feitelson had similar aesthetic sensibilities as can be seen in these two unexpected classic Hard-Edge paintings by Carmean. They are a surprise because Carmean is known only for being a figurative artist. The paintings were done in the 1950's at the time the Hard-Edge movement was taking off. Feitelson and Carmean's work often followed parallel paths and these abstract paintings are just another example of how "great minds think alike".

Lorser Feitelson and Harry Carmean in LA Rising exhibit

Harry Carmean and Lorser Feitelson exhibited side by side at the LA Rising show at the Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara (Sept. - Oct 2011), and what a sight it was! The two artists tackled similar themes with equally successful results. Feitelson is more known to the public than Harry Carmean, but as can be seen here, Carmean holds his own when showing with Feitelson who was his close friend and contemporary for thirty years. In time, Harry Carmean will be more recognized, and like Feitelson, will be seen as one of California's best interpreters of the figure.

Harry Carmean draws Lorser Feitelson

Harry Carmean liked to sketch his friend and mentor, Lorser Feitelson whenever he got a chance. Here are a few sketches which really captures Feitelson's likeness with just a few strokes. 

Harry Carmean's teacher Lorser Feitelson

The drawings above are by Lorser Feitelson, a well known abstract and figurative Los Angeles artist. It was no wonder that after walking in on Feitelson life drawing class at Art Center, that Harry Carmean's life was forever changed. The above examples show Feitelson's incredible skills in drawing the figure and in them we can see the root of Carmean's development as an artist. For my mind, these drawings show a complete understanding of the techniques of the European old masters but they are unique because they were done by an American artist in modern times. Feitelson had a large collection of old master drawings which was published in a catalogue and is available online.