| Mentor Huebner: One Artist Show | |
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Twelve
Paintings, with Commentary by Louise Huebner Painting #9: Henry Ford Bridge |
Mentor Huebner
Henry Ford Bridge, 1963
Oil on Masonite
24 X 30 inches
© Louise Huebner
The Henry Ford Bridge, in Wilmington, California, is where the big ships come in. The draw bridge is a formidable greeter. If it likes the ships it lets them in. If not ....
As a Post Impressionist painter, Mentor was into speed and light. He preferred natural light, never painted landscapes indoors and never took more than a day to do one. Not many artists could produce a painting of equal value to his in under one week. One day wasn't 24 hours, it was more like 8.
Usually, Mentor painted on his days off from film productions. He didn't paint if he had the flu. But he never had the flu. He didn't paint if someone died. Or if there was a huge storm. One with lightening and thunder. Or if there was too much smog and everything looked yellow. Then he would curse. Of course, he didn't paint when there were earthquakes. But he did paint in blizzards. At least overseas. He thought there was no time to fool around as we would be going home soon. And time was passing.
If too much time passed between painting excursions, he became restless. Drawing daily for movies didn't satisfy his Fine Art painting urges. He had to get out into the open air to be challenged by the light and time. He was in a race. He had to do a complete and what he considered to be a good painting ~ by dusk!
Mentor painted in many spectacular locations, but he was convinced California's light was the best in the world. At times he drove two hours to reach a spot that attracted him. If it was civilized, I went along.
Carrying a mechanic's tool chest filled with paints and a French easel with a Masonite board strapped to it was quite an ordeal. With no parking close to his chosen spot ~ not ever ~ he'd walk. He was very tanned and fit. He worked out. Boxed. So it wasn't as bad for him as I saw it to be.
Mentor would eat a candy bar while painting. He felt that a sandwich would take the 'edge' off. I always made sure he had a good breakfast before he left. On his way home he'd grab a coffee at a Jack-in-the-Box, and drink it while driving.
He didn't paint for show, for gain nor for prestige, but because he had to. He had no way out. Arriving home, splattered with paint, smelling of turpentine, and smiling, he'd kiss me and say, “Here Honey, this is for you."
He needed only to paint. He wasn't a collector. He didn't care if the paintings were exhibited or not. He didn't care if they sold or not. If he didn't like a collector, much to everyone's chagrin, nothing could force him to release his painting to that person. He could not be cajoled. Not about paintings. Other stuff. But not paintings.
He gave me all his paintings. I guess he liked me. The Henry Ford Bridge painting was no different. About any painting he would ask, "You like it?"
He asked me about the Henry Ford Bridge. I like bold designs.
"Well, what do you think? You like it?"
I liked it.
In fact, I loved it.
Mentor Huebner's One Artist Show
- Mentor (Self Portrait)
Mojave Gold
Palace of Fun
The Bistro - Paris
Sexi Beach Bar
Saint Mark's in Venice
The Grand Canal in Venice
The Foreigner
Henry Ford Bridge
Mortal Wound
Bourbon Street
California Gold
From Your Guide: Mentor’s widow, Louise Huebner, is a writer, and the author of over 11 books about the Occult. She has the dubious honor of being the only officially appointed Official Witch in the world. She was designated Official Witch of Los Angeles during a Spell Cast at the Hollywood Bowl, where she had been 'booked' to increase the 'sexual vitality' of Los Angeles County's 78 cities. This event took place on "Folklore Day," during a concert in a series of Hollywood Bowl Concerts: "Twelve Summer Sundays at the Bowl." The 'Official Certificate' was inadvertently legal, having been signed by the Chairman of the Board of the Los Angeles County Supervisors and affixed with the County Seal.
Mentor and Louise are the parents of three children (a son, and twins: a son and a daughter) and the grandparents of six (four boys and two girls). Louise is quick to say,
"All the kids are very good looking, intelligent and talented," and adds,
"But then, why not?"
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The Mentor Huebner Art Gallery is located in the Medford International Airport, Medford, Oregon.
The Mentor Huebner Official Website: http://www.MentorHuebnerArt.com
Louise Huebner - Curator: LouiseHuebner@MentorHuebnerArt.com
Sale or Exhibition Information regarding Paintings and Drawings (Originals, Giclées or Prints), Fine Art or Film Production Art can be obtained by emailing Louise Huebner.
