LDS Artist Reveals Newest Painting, 'Runaway Slave' | HuffPo

[_moksha]

Speaking of propaganda art, wonder if McNaughton could touch this one up with his colorful brush strokes. It would be a departure from his previous paintings in that this one contains more symbolism and less drivel.

[_The Erotic Apologist]

Honey, step away from the creepy martyr guy.

So...is the creepy martyr guy supposed to be Aragorn from Return of the King? Is that why he has that tree symbol on his man dress?

My entire family LOVES this man's work. My entire family often embarrasses the hell out of me.

I'm sure my wife would understand. Her mom is into Thomas Kinkade.

[_Quasimodo]

I'm sure my wife would understand. Her mom is into Thomas Kinkade.

[_huckelberry]

Is painting lousy pictures one of the blessings?

In fairness, McNaughton's painting is technically very good. However, it's puerile subject matter does make it less than art. It reminds me a little of posters from the old Soviet Union. Pure, unabashed propaganda.

As bc explains because I am a lefty I can actually understand soviet propaganda better and I think it is normally technically superior than this image. Mutter mutter, well actually I appreciate your saying something positive about the painting. If it is not merely bad art one has to try to understand why it exists. Clearly somebody went to a bother to make the image.

I am trying to think of nice things to see in it. The faces and figures are rendered with enough clarity to communicate. That doesn't come lightly. His perspectives bother me but I am unsure how much that matters.

I keep puzzling about the color choice. It is the same sort of color in each picture. I keep wondering if the artist has to live inside the nightmare color he projects. They look to me like sitting in a Mormon chapel while being engulfed in a panic attack. I have awoken to find I have become a cockroach.

[_Elphaba]

I'm sure my wife would understand. Her mom is into Thomas Kinkade.

I almost included my family's love of Kinkade as well to demonstrate how embarrassing they are, but decided to leave it out. Your wife has my sympathies.

[_Elphaba]

I keep wondering if the artist has to live inside the nightmare color he projects. They look to me like sitting in a Mormon chapel while being engulfed in a panic attack. I have awoken to find I have become a cockroach.

That cracked me up!

[_Sethbag]

where is the chicken?

[_Nightlion]

where is the chicken?

Somebody call Boyd

[_Blixa]

I keep wondering if the artist has to live inside the nightmare color he projects. They look to me like sitting in a Mormon chapel while being engulfed in a panic attack. I have awoken to find I have become a cockroach.

That cracked me up!

Boy, that is a good description of the "world" of McNaugton's work.

Clearly, it's meant to be lowest common denominator, hit-you-over-the-head-with-obviousness, literalist illustration. But even on that sorry level, like huckleberry, I'm not sure its that good either. There seems to be no eye for interesting design or composition and always with the muddy palette. I'm not sure much attention is given to portraying individuals either, all the figures in his paintings look fairly interchangeable, like he's painting the same few models over and over again in different wigs and "period" costume. And his protesting heroes always look more constipated than angry.

He also seems unaware of how easily his broad images can be turned to other uses. In a time when popular culture is awash in Zombie narratives and motifs, how could he not see this painting echoing standard 'army of the undead' tropes?

[_palerobber]

In fairness, McNaughton's painting is technically very good.

huh? the technical merit of his work is somewhere between New Era Magazine illustrator and retired BYU engineering professor. like i could see him maybe winning 2nd prize at the American Fork Steel Days art show. out of 9 entries.