My daughters and me |
I really hope that shows in my work and that there’s
something about it that you enjoy.
Art does a lot of things for me; it is therapy, it is
intensity, it is a challenge, and the act of creating it is its own reward.
If you were to ask me what the most interesting thing about painting is for me,
I would honestly say it isn't so much the work itself, but the people I meet in the process.
It is fascinating to hear their story, what brought them to where they are now,
and what they are passionate about.
I paint because I have a story to tell through the work. My collectors have their own stories to tell when it comes to the work they choose to display in
their homes, offices, etc., and the great thing is to find that incredible
moment when those stories come together.
Depicting stories is as fun as this craft
gets. There is so much beauty here in Utah, from the mountains that frame the area, to
the buildings and the people and the activities that happen here ... there is a
lifetime of subjects for all kinds of artists to recreate. It's rustic, it's contemporary,
and it's alive!
I paint the way I paint, and I suppose that my unique take
on art is my methodology applied to the source material. I like to use a lot of
paint; the strokes you see are usually thickly applied. I have always enjoyed
the work of other artists who have mastered their technique of applying thick
strokes to make up something recognizable. It lets me see it as a painting
first, and then appreciate the subject that is rendered secondarily. For some
reason, it is a lot more pleasing to me, and that appreciation has definitely
influenced how I developed my style.
Little Dog Helping Me Paint - Critiquing the Work |
I love contrast. There are often sharp divisions between the
objects in my work. For sure, you will see that expressed in my tree paintings.
For aspen trees (some of the most exciting and interesting trees around), that
division is a natural draw to their charm for me.
I have been painting since the 1990s. I paint in acrylics. I
paint because I love it. It is just as exciting for me to paint as it is to go
fishing. It is a great experience to spend my time on each piece. There is a
wonderful period of discovery in tracking down my subject in person -- trekking
through forests or old towns -- looking for the image waiting
to be discovered.
Sometimes I will paint my reference painting on-site,
but I will always take photos of the scene, too. This is the part of the
process where I see it the way I want to, and can make digital renderings of my
reality of the subject matter. I can take hours on this step until I am
completely satisfied with the end result.
Demonstration Diptych - Rough-in |
Demonstration Diptych - Finished |
I hope you like the work. I am not the only person in the
world to paint boldly, and I won't be the last, but I hope that my unique
take on it is pleasing to you and inspires you to let others know about it. There are so many artists who have influenced my work, from many years ago to today. Here is a list of a few of them with links to their work:
Richard Schmid
http://www.richardschmid.com/
Eyvind Earle
http://www.eyvindearle.com/
J. Kirk Richards
http://art.jkirkrichards.com/viewer/period.php?yearfrom=1999&yearto=2003&ipc=5
John Singer Sargent
http://www.tfaoi.com/newsm1/n1m21.htm
I will post a few more in the next little while.
Richard Schmid
http://www.richardschmid.com/
Eyvind Earle
http://www.eyvindearle.com/
J. Kirk Richards
http://art.jkirkrichards.com/viewer/period.php?yearfrom=1999&yearto=2003&ipc=5
John Singer Sargent
http://www.tfaoi.com/newsm1/n1m21.htm
I will post a few more in the next little while.
Thank you for visiting this site!
You are very talented, inspirational, and bold. I have always appreciated your authentic approach to your art and life. Much success to you and your creations.
ReplyDeleteJa Fry