"The Outlaw Josie Wales" Clint Eastwood Canvas by Chris Tutty

Title: The Outlaw Josie Wales
Artist: Chris Tutty
Dimensions: 40 x 30 inches

Chris Tutty’s The Outlaw Josie Wales painting is a raw and powerful 40 x 30-inch work that brings Clint Eastwood’s legendary character from the 1976 Western film The Outlaw Josey Wales to life. Eastwood, in the role of Wales, is captured in mid-action, with one of his guns drawn and aimed to the side while the other is pointed upwards, ready for combat. His rugged, weathered face, framed by his signature cowboy hat and long coat, speaks volumes about the character’s troubled past and unwavering resolve. The portrayal of Wales in the painting showcases the tough, vein-popping, gunfighter hands that are hallmarks of Eastwood’s portrayal—his physicality exuding the grit and tenacity of a man who has been hardened by the violence he’s witnessed and endured.

The film’s impact on Hollywood and the Western genre is undeniable. Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, The Outlaw Josey Wales became a standout, influencing the portrayal of complex antiheroes in Westerns. The character of Josie Wales was one of Eastwood’s most iconic roles, a man with a deeply troubled past seeking vengeance for the brutal murder of his family during the American Civil War. The film blurred the lines between good and evil, capturing a man struggling with morality in a world that demanded brutality in the face of injustice.

The image of Josie Wales, complete with his rugged features, intense eyes, and clenched fists, was the epitome of the lone, stoic gunslinger. Eastwood’s portrayal, with veins bulging and fists tight around the guns, solidified the "tough guy" persona that would define him in Hollywood for years to come. His character’s emotional complexity—seeking both revenge and redemption—spoke to audiences, setting a new standard for the Western genre.

In the painting, Tutty’s use of color further enhances the mood of the film. The white and cream hues at the top of the painting evoke the dust and heat of the desert, while the darker brown and sepia tones toward the bottom suggest an impending storm, not just in the weather, but in the battle of wills that is about to unfold. The backdrop of a brewing storm mirrors Wales’ tumultuous journey, setting the stage for the intense action and moral struggle that made the film resonate with audiences long after its release.

The film’s impact also lies in its influence on the evolution of the Western genre, blending elements of classic Western narratives with more contemporary and gritty storytelling. The Outlaw Josey Wales challenged traditional ideas of heroism, introducing a man who wasn’t just the typical white-hat-wearing protagonist. Wales is both a hero and a tragic antihero, facing consequences for the violence he’s dealt out, yet remaining resolute in his quest for vengeance.

This painting serves as a powerful homage to Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of Josie Wales—an unforgettable character whose stoic, tough exterior and inner turmoil captured the essence of the modern Western. It’s a tribute not only to Eastwood’s rugged face and the veins pulsing through his hands as he grips his guns but also to the film’s lasting impact on cinema, solidifying The Outlaw Josey Wales as a defining moment in both Eastwood’s career and in the evolution of Western filmmaking.

ORIGINAL WORKS

Each Original painting is unique and a one of a kind creation. A great amount of time and detail goes into each piece of art from hand painted brush strokes in acrylic and oil medium, to the unique art of airbrushing done with only the best of paints, Createx Auto -Air Colors and House of Kolors Automotive Paint. Aspects of geological layering almost like sedimentary rock are imparted with mixed mediums such as metallics, gold and silver flaking, the introduction of coppers and iron magnesium’s in fine powder as well as glass resins, pearls and industrial candy coats as seen on high end automobiles. Certain master pieces also use elements of sculpture with molding paste, crackling and organic material to highlight low and high points in the picture creating a dimensional embossed image which leaps off the canvas.

 ARTIST PROOFS 

With the addition of all these materials and techniques in the Original, you may ask, what does an Artist Proof look like and how does it differ from the Original painting? Due to this unique style of artwork, normal prints are no even an option. An Artist Proof is painted in the same manner as an Original and all of the above techniques mentioned in the Original are imparted in the Artist Proofs with one exception. Artist proofs are derived from the original image. The original is professionally photographed by Rob Ryan of Render DC prior to its completion. The artist proof file is digitally remastered with a spectrometer and color balanced to lead to the next step. It is then printed and stretched on canvas providing a mapping for the new proof. This is called a archial pigment print. The stretched canvas is then re-airbrushed in order to retain the true vibrant colors of the original. Molding paste, pearls, metal flakes, candies, and neon paints are incorporated, and then sealed with glass resins. The Artist Proof equals the Original. The Proof is of the same quality but has expressive variations. Essentially it is a new painting based on the Original. The price point of the Artist Proof can be marketed with substantial savings, thus provides the consumer access to a truly unique piece of art.