The rooster 1966

Ivan Generalic’s ‘The Rooster’, seems to grow into view, emerging out of a tight surface. I can imagine him, brush in hand, coaxing the paint into shape. He works the feathers, one by one. He builds up the earthy tones, the reds, browns and creams, in precise detail. The smoothness of the application is striking; the colours are carefully blended into one another to create a highly polished effect. This rooster, though, perched on a tree trunk, looks as if he's about to launch into song. I wonder what Generalic was thinking when he made this? I reckon he was thinking about other artists. The intensity of colour reminds me of Rousseau. But, Generalic has a folksy charm all of his own. All artists are in conversation, borrowing, stealing, and building upon each other’s ideas. That’s what’s so great about painting. There’s no right or wrong answer. Just marks, colours, feelings, all coming together to make something new.