The Paintings and Drawings of Clarence Major

In the first volume to collect the paintings and drawings of Clarence Major, readers are offered six decades of unique, colorful, and compelling canvases and works on paper--works of singular beauty and social relevance. These works represent Major's personal painterly journey of passionate commitment to art.

This generous selection of more than 150 paintings and drawings shows us the melding of rich ideas and fertile images, the braiding of imagination and motif. With their pleasing arrangement of elements, the works come vividly to life. Major often juxtaposes a decorative scheme with his own unique choice of color combinations, reinforced with rigorous brushstrokes that release chromatic energy. The paintings complement and challenge the great traditions of Realism, Impressionism, and Expressionism.

Major is primarily a figurative and landscape painter. Here we find landscapes of singular vitality, rich in color and design, dramatic landscapes, and cityscapes representing, among other things, Major's extensive travels in America and Europe. We are also treated to Major's signature figurative work. In these paintings, he ventures fearlessly into familiar yet unexpected areas of richness.

Also included is an introductory essay, "The Education of a Painter," written by the artist, which further sheds light on and helps to lay a biographical, social, and historical foundation for this essential volume, reflecting a lifetime of serious commitment to painting at its best.

Clarence Major is an American painter whose paintings have been shown in galleries and museums from Boston to California. Major is also an award-winning poet and novelist. He is winner of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award in the Fine Arts, presented by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.