LIVING WITH ART BLOG

One of the great experiences of my career as a gallery owner has been my friendship and artistic relationship with D.J. Lafon (1929-2011). He was unique in so many ways and his works were always so original. Just looking at the images of his paintings that we’ve had in the gallery over the years is an amazing experience.

My professional relationship with Lafon began with a fortuitous recommendation by another artist, Michi Susan, that his work be the subject of the inaugural exhibition at JRB Art at The Elms in 2003. Certainly, I was familiar with Lafon’s work, had visited his studio in Norman and even purchased a couple of paintings before 2003. But his exhibit in March of 2003 remains the most important milestone in my career as a gallery owner.

Dee J. (Pete) Lafon was born in Ogden, Utah on April 23, 1929. As a young man he distinguished himself as a champion swimmer and was earning a living as an artist by the age of 18. In 1951, he was featured in “Life Magazine” as one of America’s top emerging artists. He received a B.F.A. in 1960 and an M.F.A. in painting and drawing 1962 from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Lafon worked as a professional illustrator and art instructor before assuming the Chairmanship of the Art Department at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma in 1964. He served in that capacity for 20 years. Following his retirement in 1984, he established a working studio in Norman and devoted himself to creating art. During his life he mentored hundreds of young artists as well as inspiring scores of more established artists with his skillful thoughtful portrayal of his subject matter and his dedication to his craft.

I believe the most difficult thing an artist must do is to find a unique voice.  That unique voice came as naturally to Lafon as breathing. The scope of his subject matter and his understanding and treatment of his subject matter was astounding. He was a master of every subject, every medium and every painting style and yet his work is so intelligent and distinctive that it is always recognized.

The second most difficult thing an artist must do is to sustain his unique voice without the work becoming cliché. Lafon’s work was always fresh and riveting. One of the most frequent comments about Lafon’s work that I’ve heard in the gallery from other artists as well as our clients were “how did he think of that?” “How did he do that?” Or, “I wish I could think and paint like that.” Or, my personal favorite, “I’ve got to have that, the guy’s a genius!”

Lafon worked consistently harder and was more prolific than any artist I have ever known. He believed creating art was hard work and he never shrank from hard work.  He also believed that the art should speak for itself and did not admire artist’s statements. The only artist statement he admired was a statement saying just that.

In 2005, Lafon created a body of work titled, “Uncommon Influences.” The subjects he created were paintings in the period in which they lived. If the subjects were artists, he painted them in the style in which they painted. For instance, there were two rather large abstract expressionist portraits of Lee Krasner. I remember one particular painting he titled “Man in Striped Suit.” When I received the painting, I thought the figure looked like Sigmund Freud and started wondering if Lafon was commenting on the psychoanalytic process, so I called and asked him if that’s what the painting was about and he said, “well…the title of the painting is “Man in Striped Suit.” Enough said.

 Image - D.J. Lafon at his studio in Norman, OK