096 http://www.AmericanArtCollector.com
SETH HAVERKAMPBeauty is the Meaning
UPCOMING SHOW PREVIEW / BENDER GALLERY
11 /4-11/ 30 Asheville, NC1 21
Split Infinity, oil on panel,
40 x 28"
2
Star, oil on panel, 33 x 24"
3
Wynter at Night, oil on
panel, 24 x 18"
4
I see you, oil on panel,
16 x 12"
5
Essie's Unicorn, oil onS
eth Haverkamp has become recognized for his
figurative paintings that have a touch of imagi-
nation and striking narrative that draw the viewer
further into the work. On November 4, Bender Gallery
in Asheville, North Carolina, will open its first solo
exhibition for the artist. The show, titled Beauty is the
Meaning, includes past works as well as new pieces
that are more thematic. One of the latest pieces, in
progress at the time of this article, is a large-scale two-
figure work that Havekamp says is “Wyeth-esque.”
The title of the show, Beauty is the Meaning, has
resonated with Haverkamp because while his work
is themed, his paintings are about the beauty and
technique. “What I’ve been interested in isn’t making
a statement or putting my thoughts into the world,
but just trying to make an image that is beautiful
and captivating and draws you in,” he explains.
“That’s always kind of been my thinking...Although
there are underlying themes going on in some of
my paintings, I don’t announce what they are but bythe way I paint, there’s something underlying under
the surface.”
Haverkamp’s paintings have a defined style through
their color and focus on important details—such
as facial expressions and hands. “One thing I try to
do is push layers upon layers upon layers of strong
color to get interesting results,” the artist shares. “It’s
about five colors I use that overlap very strongly with
very little color mixing, and that’s how I treat every
part of the painting—clothes, hands, backgrounds.
Sometimes it can be about seven or eight colors on
my palette.” Haverkamp uses one yellow, one orange,
one red (sometimes two), blue (sometimes two) and
a purple. Being color blind and not able to see green,
Haverkamp omits green in the palette, but through his
mixing, the range of colors appear in his works.
While he uses other models, often in Haverkamp’s
artwork his children appear as the figure. The works
are not portraits of them, but rather tell stories
Haverkamp wants to paint. “It’s just interesting,