Breaking the Rules: Works of Art by Ike Bennet and Scott Gordon

Breaking the Rules: Works of Art by Ike Bennett and Scott Gordon

August 9 - September 18

Naïve art emerged as a style in that it went against the formal rules of art education and technique, especially not respecting the rules of perspective. The style, popularized by the French post-Impressionist artist Henri Rousseau, is characterized by its use of bright colors, simplified forms and shapes, and often a lack of perspective. Naive art does away with technique in favor of feeling, resulting in highly intuitive pieces.

“The word naive in this case is not designated in a pejorative way, rather it refers to the quality of creative honesty, unballasted from techniques and artifices established by the official education system, which can sometimes become so structured that it steals sincerity and “soul” to art.”

Ike Bennett

Retired executive and co-owner of Public Supply Company, Ike Bennett started painting eight years ago while recovering from knee replacement surgery. He studies under Dennis Johnson, who has helped him with perception, design and other aspects of painting. He is a member of the Studio gallery where some of his paintings hang.

Working from a converted study in his home, Ike paints mostly with oil on canvas, his subjects ranging from buildings, barns, and houses to gold course scenes and anything else that interests him. Painting had enriched his retirement life, keeping him busy when he’s not playing golf. His family has supported him tremendously, both with their critique and their encouragement.

Scott Gordon

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and lived in Southern California for many years before moving to Oklahoma City. My love of nature and the ocean is evident in my selection of subject matter. The places I have visited and surfed and the areas I have lived in serve as the inspiration for many of my pieces. I seek to communicate a sense of living in the moment, energy, and intensity in my use of vibrant colors and rich textures. All my works are acrylic on canvas.

The works are a variety of landscapes and seascapes. Scott’s inspiration is where he has lived and traveled: the Pacific Northwest, the Pacific Coast, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Hawaii. They are done in acrylic on canvas and the sizes range from 12” x 24” to 24” x 36”. They reflect his deep love of the ocean and nature. His father is an artist and he has been inspired by him as well as the fauvist movement. Having recently moved to Oklahoma, Scott feels a strong new spirit in my work.