For many years I have had the privilege of calling Max Turner my friend. He is the most skilled artist I have ever known, and continues to inspire -- and awe -- his students and fellow artists alike. You may not have heard of Max, for he is a humble and unassuming fellow. But local artists know who he is. Max is the sculptor's sculptor, whose breadth and quality of work would astound you. He's the consummate draftsman, whose head and figure drawings rival those of the renaissance masters. He's the gifted painter, whose bravura style is startling and magnificent. Max is, quite simply, a master.Growing up during the depression in the small mining town of Bingham Canyon, Utah, with no culture to speak of, somehow Max's interest in art was kindled and the creative seed was planted. It took sixty years to take root, for during the interim he was a soldier in World War II, a printer, a machinist, twice a husband, and a dedicated and conscientious foundry worker. Later he had the good fortune to meet a fine artist named Hal Reed, who encouraged him to pursue painting. Since then art has been his passion.
Over the years there have been many artists whom Max has admired, but a few that stand out in his mind are Frank Brangwyn, Sergei Bongart, Mariano Fortuny, Abram Arkhipov, Nicolai Fechin, Antonio Mancini, and the sculptor Stanislav Szukalski. Among present day artists Max appreciates the work of Richard Schmid, Dan McCaw, Peter Liashkov, and Jeremy Lipking.Max's taste in music varies, but he enjoys listening to the Big Bands, Ellington, Billie Holiday, Gershwin, and Ray Charles, among so many others. For entertainment he enjoys watching football and Nascar on TV, and attending the Saturday workshop at the California Art Institute in Thousand Oaks, California.
Max has published two wonderful books, both of which are available on his website: Faces, a gallery of his amazing head drawings, and Figures and Faces, a marvelous compilation of some of Max's incredible figure and head drawings, plus a generous sampling of some of his sculpture and paintings.Both books are reasonably priced and highly recommended.
Visit Max Turner's website
