Artwork copyright Mel McCuddin. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Mel McCuddin. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

The Under-developed Bicep, 1998

Mel McCuddin
(American, born 1933, died 2022)

Location: South Whidbey High School, Langley

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Mel McCuddin created the painting The Under-developed Bicep by layering cooler colors over a warm underpainting. It is part of his body of work made using a spontaneous process. He paints from intuition until an image begins to form. He notes, “Titles are important in my work. The Under-developed Bicep is a rather humorous title as of a beginning weight lifter standing before a mirror and hoping for muscles. The image itself without the title is meant to be mysterious and enigmatic. I try to get a balanced reflection of life in my paintings. Humor and mystery, I believe, form a large part of the human experience. This painting has a lot to do with vanity and false values evident in society today.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with South Whidbey School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Spokane, Eastern Washington-based artist Mel McCuddin (1933-2022) created expressive, figurative paintings. In his own words: “I begin a painting with no idea in mind, and at a certain point in the process of putting paint on the canvas, an idea will suggest itself. Many of these ideas change and many are rejected until one seems strong enough to accept. My paintings are essentially a record of the evolution of an idea... What I’ve been after for a long time is something that you feel more than see, paintings with a strong presence.”

McCuddin was born and raised on a dairy farm on Spokane’s North Side. He loved art as a child and made art all through high school. He worked as a truck driver for dairies, took art classes when he could, and painted at night until retirement allowed him to create art full time.