Douglas Black
Chicago, IL
Animals have grabbed my attention, particularly birds because their beauty in both color and shape exist in innocence; they know not how lovely they are.
Message
Douglas Black (1961 – ), painter, born in Glasgow, this artist spent most of his early life in Detroit where his formal education was in architecture. He studied watercolor rendering technique under acclaimed architect Roy Strickfaden, and oils and gauche under the modernist Harold Linton. Combining elements of figurative impressionism and the sensibilities of metamodernism, his work is firmly rooted in Contemporary Figurative Realism, or more specifically, Urban Realism (a sub-genre of Genre Painting).
His signature is simply Douglas along with the hyphenated two digit year of production. His paintings are valued in the hundreds to low-thousands and held in several private collections.
Statement
I believe the most compelling dramas unfold not on a stage, but on a park bench, a bustling street corner, or in the silent spaces between two strangers. My oil painting practice is rooted in the simple, profound diversion of people watching—a fascination that fuels my ongoing series, People Doing People Stuff.
Leveraging an early architectural eye for structure and space, I frame human interactions against the backdrop of their built and natural environments. My canvas becomes a compelling intersection where geometry meets grace, and the quiet theater of daily life plays out.
While my work resonates with the sensibilities of Metamodernism, oscillating between ironic detachment and sincere engagement, my stylistic approach is sharply defined:
- Landscapes & Figurative Works: A vivid exploration of Contemporary Urban Realism and Figurative Painting. I strive to capture modern life with an honest, unvarnished intensity, treating the metropolitan landscape as a living, breathing subject.
- Still Life: My earliest artistic inspiration—the opulent, masterfully rendered spreads portrayed by Renaissance Masters in the institutional museums of Detroit and Chicago—ignited my passion. This reverence is channeled into my still life work, where I pivot toward Figurative Impressionism, focusing on the transient beauty of light and texture in moments of gathered plenty.
Through both my sweeping urban scenes and my intimate still lifes, I offer a sustained, observant gaze on the human condition, inviting the viewer to pause and truly see the world they inhabit.