Stanley Rayfield, a painter and recent VCU art school grad, will be featured starting Friday December 2 in his first solo art show at Glave Kocen Gallery. Capturing realistic elements that even the human eye may miss, Stanley, an old high-school friend of mine, has a talent beyond anyone his age. Stanley’s artistic career has launched to phenomenal levels after winning second place in a national competition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC with his painting entitled “Dad.”
Stanley Rayfield, a painter and recent VCU art school grad, will be featured starting Friday December 2 in his first solo art show at Glave Kocen Gallery. Capturing realistic elements that even the human eye may miss, Stanley, an old high-school friend of mine, has a talent beyond anyone his age. Stanley’s artistic career has launched to phenomenal levels after winning second place in a national competition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC with his painting entitled “Dad.”
So how do you feel about your first solo art show and getting to this point in your artistic career?
I’ve done shows at different venues, been in group shows and whatnot, but I’ve never had a solo show before. After graduating from VCU’s art school, I knew I wanted to continue in the fine arts and with painting, [with] my goal of being in a museum one day. Being in galleries is an initial starting point to get to that goal.
So just to backtrack a bit, how did you get started in art, and what made you want to become an artist?
I remember in 3rd grade, there were kids in my class who were like the “cool kids.” They would always draw, and you know, as a kid you always want to be a part of that type of group. So I would always doodle and draw, until one day they asked me to be a part of their club. I think that’s when my interest in art started. I used to be this loud, talkative and obnoxious kid in middle school, and drawing kind of calmed me down. And it wasn’t until high school that I started to focus on art, when I was accepted into an advanced art program.
I know you paint, but what type of medium do you use, and is there a reason why? Have you dabbled in other media?
Yeah I have: pen and ink, oil paints, watercolors, gouache, and pencil. But I’m most comfortable with oil painting, and when I’m concepting and doodling, I usually do that in pencil. I mainly use oil paints because I once heard some advice from an artist–they said that the medium you use should be the one with the most endless medium, meaning that when you use it, you aren’t limited by it or within it. You feel free when you use it, and no barriers. That’s how I feel with oil paints.
I saw that you’ve done some caricatures and that you worked for a company that deals with that.
Yeah, I use to work with Kaman’s Art Shoppes. They are a company that’s across the country, but they have locations in major theme parks. You know, the caricatures stands and photo booths at the front gates and around the grounds. I thought, “This seems pretty cool,” so when I was old enough to work, I went in one day, showed them my work, and got the job.
Caricatures are very exaggerated and playful portraits of people. How has that helped you with your work? Has it fine-tuned your technique?
Technique-wise, it’s different from when I’m drawing realistically, because you’re exaggerating, but it does help in some aspects. When you’re at a theme park almost every day in the summer, you are drawing hundreds of caricatures and constantly being in that art mode, which is incredible for an artist. You’re also drawing with a time limit, so naturally the repetition was beneficial when I would sketch and/or do my own work. Also, they were really fun, and a good departure for me too. It made me feel more fearless, because you get a lot of rejections as a caricature artist. It makes you have a thicker skin, which is good for the art world, since you’re constantly being critiqued. It really translates across the board, and I feel like I have a lot more confidence than most artists my age.
How would you describe your artistic style? To me, I would describe it as very life-like, but in your own words?
Wow, that’s a good question. I have a ton of influences from traditional types of art, such as realism [and] portraits. But honestly, anything that is realistic and based from observation, I’m really strong in that area. I really do enjoy drawing people. When you say my art per se, I think of my ability to create realism as a tool, but I feel like my art is more of what I’m trying to say. My creative energy is really more of who I am as a person. My voice and style is what I’m trying to portray in my artwork, and hopefully more people will see it.
What was your first memorable art show or exhibit that inspired you?
In class, my professors would show slides of artists. Henry Ossawa Tanner… he would do very figurative painting, but his story was what influenced me. He painted during a time when being an African-American artist wasn’t taken as seriously as it is now. He had to go to Europe in order for his artwork to be shown, while back in the states he was laughed at. Which I thought was really unfortunate. I would like to continue in that tradition [of] African American painters that are very serious, and can go beyond the racial barriers and not be known as a black painter, but just a painter.
What are your other influences, and what can you take from their artwork? Any particular elements?
Chuck Close’s use of realism. To me, [it] seems like [photorealists] were trying to captivate the audience. They were very realistic, and I enjoyed their awe-inspiring [work] and the ability to have people wondering more, which made me want to have that element in my artwork.
Who are your subjects? Are these people you know personally?
The people I chose are for a particular reason, but in regards to my show, I chose people that fit with the message I wanted to get across.
And that is?
Well, the name of my show is The Girls Next Door. Pretty much, I wanted to paint more women, but I didn’t want to paint just another pretty face. I wanted to find an interesting way of honing in on that idea, like–what is it about somebody that makes [people] say, “You remind me of someone, like the girl across the street,” or “You look like the girl who works at Kroger’s,” or a girl who looks like my best friend’s cousin, or the girl I use to have crush on in elementary school. So I started thinking about it, started doing more research and “people-watching,” and I found people that had traits and looks that were very similar to one another. My biggest obstacle [was]–how do I take all of those similar traits and find someone that embodies all of it and would get that familiar trait? I now have 25 pieces for the show, and surprisingly people are getting it when they ask if this is so and so.
You’ve been here since you were really young. Has Richmond becoming this budding creative city been an influence in your artwork?
Not really with my artwork, since I mainly draw people. But I would say that the art scene itself is definitely growing, [from] local artists being showcased in the local galleries, to nationally and internationally recognized artists displaying their artwork in Richmond. It’s great to say I’m an artist from Richmond, and to know that my artwork is contributing to the growing scene here.
Is there anything else you would like RVA Mag readers to know?
Just support all the artists out there, and definitely come out to my show at Glave Kocen Gallery on Main Street, Friday, Dec. 2nd!
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Stanley Rayfield’s The Girls Next Door will be showing at Glave Kocen Gallery from December 2 through December 24. There will be an opening reception on Friday December 2 from 6 until 9 PM.
