American (1955)
About the artist:
He started his training in Art at an early age with his father who was an illustrator. Mr. Browning has been a professional artist since the age of 13. For formal studies he attended the Art Students League in New York City, where he was awarded the Merit Scholarship for 2 consecutive years, studying under Robert Emil Shulz, Jack Faragasso and George Pasantino. Later he was affiliated with the Salmagundi Club in New York City, studying with Louis de Donato. Portrait painting was the artist's main focus for the fist 28 years of his career. His portfolio is replete with leading scientists, political figures, corporate executives, society matrons and children. However, Randall was not satisfied with those accomplishments. In 1989 he began traveling in Mexico, learning about the various cultures and their traditions. He was especially fascinated with masks, rituals, dances and the process of personal transformation that happens to individuals during those rituals and traditional fiestas. Years of study and travel within Mexico followed. Randall has always been interested in philosophy and has studied meditation for many years. His latest paintings are based on the old Zen school of painting, not stylistically as much as philosophically. Even though people refer to them as still life, the artist thinks of them as meditations. The question of how an inanimate object can affect people emotionally is a fascinating one, such as how music which is very abstract, can produce such emotion. Of course the answer is not one that is based on logic. That is where Zen comes in, there is no logical way to paint the essence of something. How does one paint Spring? If one paints green leaves and blossoms, that is just painting green leaves and blossoms. Therefore the artists focus is to paint the simple essence of things. Randall feels that if he can detach his personal ego from the process, then the essence of that which he is painting comes through naturally. Randall Browning lives in San Miguel de Allende, Gto. Mexico
He started his training in Art at an early age with his father who was an illustrator. Mr. Browning has been a professional artist since the age of 13. For formal studies he attended the Art Students League in New York City, where he was awarded