I have painted portraits in oils, alkyd, and pastels over the years including this painting of actor Jack Palance in 1976. I was commissioned to do this portrait for Mr. Palance and it was part of his estate when it went on auction just before his death in late 2006. After several dozen portraits, I stopped taking orders when I would receive photos of people who were not available to be posed or photographed by me because too often the photos supplied were in poor shape and I could not get the feeling of the person I was to paint. Now I usually only take special commissions where I can actually meet and photograph my subject. By the way, Mr. Palance spent an entire day with me describing his passion for antiques and posing for photo reference in order to paint his portrait.
"Jacks Creek Farmhouse" another view in oils. I painted this for a calendar for Walton County Georgia 2000. I employed information that the farm had once grown cotton (although now abandoned) and set the image in an earlier time with dirt roads. The building still exists but I have no doubt that soon it will collapse like so many others in rural Georgia. Purchase
"Jacks Creek Farmhouse" in a limited edition print for $75. (Includes S&H in the United States. Other countries will be billed at current rates.)
Another subject that I am interested in painting is the Native American. Every few yerars I am compelled to do several images in Oils, pastel, acrylic and/or charcoal representing our American Indian heritage. My mother had told us satories of her mother who was gone sionce she was a young girl but who was reputed to be a Cherokee Indian. This encouraged me at an early age to study the Native American history in North America. It is a fascinating history and mostly a lost civilization built upon respect for the land and the animals. The things that feed the tribe and keep us alive.
All Artwork and Text Copyright 1974-2007 Peter Muzyka and Vanishing Rural Georgia Art
Peter Muzyka's paintings and drawings range from egg tempera, his favorite medium, to oils, acrylics, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, pastel, and pen & ink.
