Comparative Study

NATHAN POPP & GEOFFREY GERSTEN

By Jessica Martinez
 He was one of nine featured in Watercolor Artist, a
national magazine dedicated to showcasing the
best work in the watercolor medium.

Nathan Popp pursued a career in art by starting his education at the University of North
Texas. He graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in watercolor painting and later
received his master’s degree at Radford University in Radford, Virginia in 2014. When
attending Radford University, he enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program. When
pursuing his education, he also taught two sections of Art Appreciation to
undergraduate students. Some of his mentors were professors, like Zheng Liang Feng
from Radford University and Rob Erdle and Millie Giles from University of North Texas.
 HIS TECHNIQUES The Garden

From abstract forms of watercolor paint, he creates surreal landscapes. He uses

the wet-on-wet technique then, he utilizes the addition of dry materials-such
as salts and synthetic urea (chemical fertilizer). Incorporating urea to wet paint
on yupo paper creates crystals when the paint dries, adding texture to his
pieces. His use of textures and abstract shapes are his inspiration for his
landscapes.

Taking the culture of the University, he’s

influenced by his graduate classmates
and his mentor, Professor Zheng Liang
Nature Overpowered Feng. In his piece “The Garden,” the
composition of the tree in the center and
the circle raised above it while the tree is
planted to the levitating ground draws his
idea of the life cycle flowing out the
garden. His use of lines of the branches
represent the growth of life.
HIS MESSAGE
His subjects include trees and roots with the
repetition of circles. He entangles in his work
the subject of life as a balance of beauty and
ugly. Through his repetition of circles, he works
to draw a symbolism of the cycle of life. He also
incorporates growth and decay within the
portrayal of the tree branches spreading out as
well as shrouding the rest of the elements in his
works with the branches.
Maelstrom
In referring to his title, “Maelstrom” refers to
powerful whirlpool in the sea or state of
confused movement or violent turmoil. Popp
centers one large circle and balances it with two
offset circles to create the effect of a connected
life. The rhythm of dark colored lines distributed
through his work depicts on the strong power
nature possesses. The lines circling around the
small centered circle is nature sending the
world in a whirlpool of disturbance.
Other of his works
demonstrate the
motif of circles being
the center focus.
 PIECES OF HIS WORKS Ingot no.2

Fallen
Still playing the symbolism of life, “Mitosis” deals with the concept of a life pattern. He
worked with the idea of life interacting with living creatures. His motif of circles and dry
brushstrokes of branches in his works illustrate the life cycle. “Mitosis” is a scene of a
bird protecting the life it has created. He uses color contrast between the circles to
depict the life cycle of animals.

As part of the ingot series, Popp was inspired

by ingot, a precious metal. The paintings are
“Fallen’ is an example of portrayal of the cycle of life. His Mitosis meant to convey the idea of metals being
message is that after death there is regrowth. He uses lines and utilized as tradable commodities. In this
dry on dry method to create the trees. The trees contrast with his painting, he uses a rectangular shape to create
color of blends, emphasizing on his brushstrokes of green. He a boundary of metals being used. His blends of
comments that the death of trees gives light to the forest floor color signify of the metals bringing the decay of
and smaller vegetation can then grow. nature.
Gallerie Gersten
“The Phoenix art scene sucks,” Gersten said, I have a romance with
the old memory
so he expanded his art influence to places
outside of his hometown. In 2016, he opened
I’m a surrealist
a gallery in Old Town Scottsdale. His gallery
featured characters from pop-culture drawn in
settings from classic works, like artists
Edward Hopper and René Magritte.

GEOFFREY
Born in 1986 in Arizona, he developed an artistic life when he
discovered a fascination with the Masters of the Dutch Golden Age.
He left his career of a CAD (Computer Aided Design) designer and in
2010, he started to self teach himself the study of art and oil
painting.

GERSTEN
His two major influences in studying art were:
The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali
American Gothic by Grant Wood
Many of his works are influenced by surrealism and impressionism,
which span the US with solo exhibitions in Taiwan and Madrid.
 PARODY OF THE
He mixes different cultures,
ranging from video games to films,
with classic settings. There's a
strong use of bright, vibrant oil
painting colors within his works,
especially within ones which depict
pop culture characters.
American Robots
Due to the strong influence of
Grant Wood’s work, Gersten
created many versions of his own
“American Gothic”. To some of his
audience, these characters portray
a cold or stern expression.
American Gothic
AMERICANbyGOTHIC
Grant Wood
He replicates the pitchfork in his parodies of the “American
Gothic” in the center of his canvas. The background plays as a
house set in the classic times of the early 1900s. The size of his
characters compose two-thirds of the painting -except for the
Alice in Wonderland version, where the characters have a
full-profile and are in balance with the background.
Super Gothic Cow Gothic
 MOTIF OF ROBOTS
The Heist American Robots
There’s a strong reflection of pop culture in Gerstern’s works. In “The Heist,” The presence
of Mcdonald’s is very apparent. The composition of the robot standing next to the pile of
fries is paired with the dark tone of the red and yellow. The robot alludes to Ronald
Mcdonald as the symbol of corporation.
The robot bares a replica of a human emotion of satisfaction with the power of Mcdonald’s
corporation. Gersten’s influence comes from the movie “The Founder”. The painting
reflects of how Mcdonald started as a family restaurant and was later overtaken by
corporation.

Both portraits of robots are heavily influenced by the

growth of industrial and corporational power in
culture of today in America.

The “American Robots” is one of his parodies of the “American Gothic” in which the
people are replaced by robots. He uses lines and shapes of triangles and rectangles to
outline the house in the background. He uses slightly pale colors and value to add depth to
the robots in the foreground. Due to societal values, Grant Wood perceived certain
characters who had the power of colonialism. As such, the substitution for robots is the
power of industry taking over in the United States..
 In his solo exhibition, “MK-ULTRA Wars,”Gertsen
alludes to the Project MK-Ultra- a CIA
mind-control research program in 1950s. Just as
the CIA had experimented with drugs and methods
to control minds as a way to interrogate people,
Gestern uses iconic characters, classic artworks,
and ubiquitous logos as a parody of the mind
control.
“MK-Ultra / Guernica” is a parody of Picasso’s
“Guernica”. There’s no negative space in his
painting while the composition is disorganized as
Picasso’s. The repetition of Picasso’s characters
from “Guernica” clash with the iconic Klondike
bear and the Obey Clothing’s logo. There’s dotted
lines and scattered rectangular shapes amongst the
chaos of familiar concepts that influence people’s
perception of the world. This piece translates of the
strong power of ‘mind control’ from the everyday
iconic characters and familial works.

MK-Ultra / Guernica
“MK-ULTRA Wars”: MIND
CONTROL OR CONSPIRACY?
At the Copro Gallery between May and June of 2015, Gersten presented
a series of oil paintings which depicted the power of war and violence
in his solo exhibition, “MK-ULTRA Wars.” In his pieces, he drives his
audience to think about the concept of mind control. His allusion to the
CIA’s Project MK-ULTRA is painted with the dreamscapes of childhood Riot Police
companions.
In “Riot Police, ” Gestern painted the dreamscape of Mickey Mouse addressing a line of
Operation Northwoods policemen. The iconic Disney character plays a large role in the entertainment industry,
having a huge influence in people’s life. The background of the flames from the burning cars
contrasts to the dark tone of the repetition of police composing one-third of the painting. The
space between Mickey Mouse and the police emphasize on the actual power everyday icons
have on people’s actions. Gestern invites his audience to fight the supposedly innocent things
that have the power to manipulate people’s behavior and thought process.

“Operation Northwoods” also works in the concept of mind control. The stuffed bears bearing
a firing squad signifies of the “candy coated cold war paranoia.” Gersten uses a dark tone to
pair with the cluster of innocent-looking stuffed bears standing in front of a two man firing
squad. Gestern invites his audience to perceive a new light of “nostalgic Americana” blending
into a conflicted dreamscape.