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.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Iconoclash

For the first piece I'll post here, I chose a painting that I did for my Painting 223 class at Sinclair Community College for Spring 2007 quarter.




Iconoclash
30 x 40 inches
acrylic, oil pastel, spray paint and collage on canvas
2007

With this piece, I chose to represent a group of iconic images in either unfamiliar or disconcerting ways. The group of smileys with one in cross-hairs of a scoped weapon, the gingham checkerboard tablecloth with poison emblems, a representation of Edvard Munch's painting but in cheery colors. These elements plus the addition of non representational colors and contrasting color blocks are employed to aid in creating a sense of confusion for the viewer. This is further unified by the overlying symbol of the Anarchist 'A' used to frame the elements. This framing is not readily apparent as a design element in it's own right as it is overpowered by the individual elements.

Any comments are welcome and any critiques are greatly appreciated!
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