1. Chuck Close Living artist Photo-realism Portraits
Close is a living artist whose large head portraits sell for six figures. He was born in Washington.
Wanted to be an artist at age four.
Wasn’t good at sports.
Dyslexic- School work was hard.
Family supported his decision to be an artist.
University of Washington-highest G.P.A. in their art school
Also studied at Yale and then received a grant and went to Europe.
Self Portrait 1997, Oil on canvas

2. Photo-Realism
Hotel Empire, Richard Estes

3. Chuck Close and Photo-Realism
Large scale portraits
Family and friends
Uses Graphs to enlarge Photographs
Six figure paintings
Frank Oil on canvas 108 x 84”

4. Early Works
Phil Acrylic on canvas, 108 x 84"

5. Phil Watercolor. 1977, Watercolor on paper 58 x 40"

6. Big Self-Portrait. 1967-68. Acrylic on canvas. 107 1/2 x 83 1/2"
Study for Self-Portrait Photographed 1967; dated 1968 Photograph, pen and ink, pencil, masking tape, acrylic, wash, and blue plastic strips on cardboard 18 5/8 x 13 3/8" The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Big Self-Portrait Acrylic on canvas /2 x 83 1/2"

7. Linda Acrylic and pencil on canvas 108 x 84" Linda / Eye Series V (Magenta, Cyan and Yellow) 1977 Watercolor on paper 30 x 22 1/2" (each)
Linda Acrylic and pencil on canvas. 108 x 84"

8. Fanny / Finger-painting (detail at left). 1985. Oil-based ink on canvas. 102 x 84"

9. Jud / Collage. 1982.Pulp paper collage on canvas. 96 x 72"

10. 1986 Watercolor on paper 30.25 x 22 .25 " Leslie/Watercolor 1
Leslie/Watercolor Watercolor on paper x 22.25”

11. An Obstacle 1988 health problems Hospitalization Paralysis
In December of 1988 one of Close’s spinal arteries collapsed and he was hospitalized.
He was then paralyzed from the neck down.
He was able to regain some leg and arm movement through hours of intense physical therapy.

12. Overcoming All
New studio
New techniques
New style

13. “ I had to recover enough to paint. There is nothing else I can do
“ I had to recover enough to paint. There is nothing else I can do. There is nothing else I want to do”
Chuck Close

14. The Studio

15. Private collection, New York Alex 1987 Black-and-white Polaroid photograph mounted on aluminum 32 x 21 3/4"
Alex II Oil on canvas. 36 x 30"

16. Roy II, Oil on canvas, 102 x 84”

17. Kiki, 1968. Acrylic on canvas. 107 1/2 x 83 ½”
3-4 months to paint
Kiki, Acrylic on canvas /2 x 83 ½”

18. “There’s a real joy in putting these little marks together
“There’s a real joy in putting these little marks together. They may look like hotdogs, but with them I build a painting.”
Chuck Close
Elizabeth, Oil on canvas, 72 x 60”

19. Judy, Oil on canvas. 72 x 60”

20. Chuck Close
Self-portrait Oil on canvas