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Artist Statement
Recording the effects of light is the essential aim, or theme,
of my work. The creation of visual illusions, sometimes called
mimesis, as well as an awareness of a painting as an abstract,
formalist construct, round out my major concerns.
Although I paint a varied group of subjects, a “tight” realism
is typical of my work. I feel that an interest in subject and
narrative elements does not preclude concurrent attention to the
abstract aspects inherent in the composition in a two-dimensional
picture plane.
The paintings are built from multiple layers of thinned acrylic
paint, applied to medium texture cotton canvas. I generally begin
with a toned ground and establish high light and shadow areas
before applying color. This roughly approximates the oil technique
known as “imprimatura.” The paintings are finished with “glazes”
to continue the oil technique analogy, but my glazes are applied
with acrylic and airbrush.
I make few drawings in preparation for my paintings. Generally,
I shoot a number of photographs of subjects I am considering.
These photos serve as my references during the process of translating
an idea to canvas. Rather than a single photo, most paintings
draw from multiple source photographs. I modify the color and
lighting freely but do rely on the photo for information on textures
and fine details. |
