Rodgers Naylor Oils
ART EDUCATION:
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
The Atelier (Minneapolis)
Art Students League of Denver.
Rodgers studied drawing at The Atelier in Minneapolis and painting at the Art Students League in Denver. At The Atelier he studied that program’s focus on classical realism and its rigorous approach to accurate draftsmanship, working from live models in the studio. At the Art Students League he studied a loose and painterly approach to oil painting, also working mostly from life. These two periods of study have greatly helped to define Rodgers’ style of painting today. “I want the drawing aspect of my work to be accurate and believable, and the light to be understandable, but I want the color and brushwork to be expressive.”
Rodgers paints both in the studio and en plein air, and continues to draw and paint the figure from life, a practice he considers essential to maintain one’s skills. Although many works are done in the studio, it is the foundation of plein-air and life work which makes the studio painting possible. Even the studio work is generally done “alla prima”, i.e. in one painting session. This is not an unbreakable rule however, and if a painting later needs a glaze of transparent color, some adjustment to color or light, or even a whole new layer of paint, then so be it.
DESCRIPTION:
Rodgers works in an “alla prima” manner, beginning with a warm-tone underpainting and completing a painting in one session when possible. This method, since it involves painting directly into wet paint, allows great flexibility in mixing colors and attaining soft edges, and fosters a fresh, spontaneous approach to painting. Rodgers takes a strong interest in the effects of light and shadow, and is intrigued by the interplay between the landscape and its human inhabitants.
SELECTED AWARDS:
Best Of Painting, Sun Valley Art Festival 2012
Honorable Mention, Denver Plein Air Art Festival 2012
First Place, Colorado Artfest 2010
First Place, Gilpin County Arts Assn 2010
Best of Show, Paint Evergreen, Colorado 2006
First Place, Evergreen Artists Association Members Show 2006
Merit Award, Omaha Summer Art Festival 2005