Owen BrownThe Realm of things, the Realm of KnowledgeThere is a difference between the realm of things and the realm of knowledge. This is the subject of philosophers, not painters, but as we…5 min read·May 7, 2021----
Owen BrownThe mystery of others, and the struggle to communicate; what little we know, we know poorlyOur judgments concerning the worth of things, big or little, depends on the feelings the things arouse in us.5 min read·Apr 12, 2021----
Owen BrownOn ReceptivenessI recently went to an artist’s talk, given by a youngster who had had some recent success, both commercial and critical, for his work…3 min read·May 22, 2019----
Owen BrownWhen is a Painting FinishedWhat an odd thing. A painting is not finished when it is finished to look like something. Not until the painting can speak with its own…5 min read·Jul 30, 2018----
Owen BrownPaying Attention, and the Path of PaintingLast year I was given a residency in a small village in southern France. I painted morning and night (and if you want to see what prompted…4 min read·Mar 1, 2018----
Owen BrownTransmission, Interpretation, TransgressionA text, once written, no longer has anyone behind it; it has, on the contrary, when it survives, and for as long as it survives, thousands…5 min read·Jul 1, 2017----
Owen BrownAutobiography in ArtNot the obvious, then. That is, Velasquez peeking coyly from Las Meninas, or Rembrandt’s absolutely gorgeous self-portraits, from youth…5 min read·Apr 4, 2017----
Owen BrownDepth in PaintingWhat we mean is not, clearly, a third physical dimension. Nor, necessarily, the pleasant falsities of perspective. Instead, depth in…6 min read·Mar 4, 2017----