Artist Statement

I’m not a painter…

In spite of the fact that you are viewing many of my works, which are primarily created using oil paints, I don’t consider myself a painter. I think of myself as a communicator, like a speechwriter, newspaper reporter, orator, or even in some aspects, a politician. I compose my ideas and try to present them in a manner that others can experience the way I feel while creating the composition. But where a speechwriter or reporter uses words to ply their trade, I am an artist, therefore I use the language of imagery to state my feelings and opinions. This imagery may vary from photography, to painting with realism, to figurative abstract, or even involve elements of found-object collage and assemblage. It may also vary from simple emotions like joy and contentment to more complex feelings such as fear, love and sadness. It is the process of communicating my ideas that is important more than the media used. In fact, it is the creative process of the communication that is important to me. While I am working on a piece, I am emotionally tied to it to the point of distraction. It becomes the sole focus of what I am doing. However, when I bring a piece to completion, the emotional attachment dissolves. I don’t feel the post partum effect that some artists talk about as much as I feel as though I’ve committed a captured moment of my essence and released it to the ether. The way a spoken word floats ever outward into space.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Peace From Above

Peace From Above
Oil and Acrylic on canvas
24 x 48 inches. 2008

Another 'statement' piece, I attempt to illustrate the principal of the price that peace can require. The dove, complete with olive branch, drops the Paveway smartbombs upon some nameless city requiring 'cleansing' to enforce the idea of peace.

The blue background on this painting is a metallic acrylic that positively glows under the light. It's a shame that the full effect is lost in the photograph. This causes the dove to pop off of the picture plane giving it a great 3D appearance.

As a side note, this painting was displayed at a local show. At the opening reception, I noticed one man in particular paying close attention to the dove's armament. Upon talking to him, I find that he was on the team of engineers that designed the guidance system for the bombs!
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)