Peacock on Newbury

CLIFFTON PEACOCK

         Cliffton Peacock is currently showing at Alpha Gallery (until February 24th) on Newbury Street in downtown Boston. His exhibit is called “New Paintings” and features a series of portraits hung around the main room upon entering the gallery.

         The figures are painted onto canvases and for the most part only depict the upper torso and head of the subjects. Though they have an almost childish feel to them due to the rounder faces, the style and color choice is stunning. While Peacock usually employs flesh tones on the figure, he also frequently uses other shades such as blue. His colors are bright and the direction of light is made clear in this way. The shading is very dark and dramatic as each painting evokes different expressions and emotions. The application of paint appears thin at times with bits of canvas peaking through the paint, but the portraits are layered thick with paint. It is evident that the portraits must take a great deal of time as any heavily layered oil painting would. The paintings are not trying to depict a realistic representation of the figure, but take a more expressive, simple, and lively approach. They are intriguing to look at and ponder about, perhaps the way Peacock himself does when he paints his imaginary figures.

Born in Chicago and a graduate of Boston University, Peacock currently teaches at the College of Charleston.

 

ALPHA GALLERY

38 NEWBURY ST.

617-536-4465