ARTIST STATEMENTS


General Artist Statement

The fundamental nature of my aesthetic rests in the use of simple, quiet compositions that visually communicate emotion within the precepts of narrative realism: intimate scenes of family gatherings, unusual renderings of ordinary objects, subtle glimpses of everyday life. These images are collectively reflected on stillness, solitude, and mystery, yet with an element of comfort and familiarity.

My creative approach is driven by the desire to balance traditional principles of painting and contemporary design, seeking inspiration from by a variety of artistic genres and periods, including 17th Century Dutch genre paintings, 19th and 20th Century American Realism, as exemplified in the works of John Singer Sargent and Andrew Wyeth, and modern documentary photographers such as Walker Evans and Sally Mann.

Specific elements of design play an integral role in the result of each painting. By way of example, careful color selection is essential in conveying the underlying mood of the composition. My Interior paintings are rendered in rich, warm colors that blend to convey a sense of intimacy and tranquility, and are reminiscent of the candlelit luminosity of Baroque paintings. Comparatively, the Gray series features gradations of blues, greens, and grays often juxtaposed with soft earth tones that collectively capture the spirit of natural environments and the gentleness of dimly lit rooms. Feelings of mystery and lucidity are conveyed in my nighttime scenes, employing a softened palette to emulate the allure of nocturnal light.

Another important stylistic choice is the size and shape of the canvas. Some paintings are square-shaped, as if providing a window in which to carefully observe. Others are evocative of elongated Chinese scrolls, rendered on vertical and horizontal rectangles that lend to a panoramic view of my subject. The size of my paintings is often smaller in scale, granting an intimate setting in which people may closely observe the painting’s content and arrangement.

In my effort to coalesce traditional and contemporary design practices, I strive to create works of art that retain a timeless quality while incorporating contemporary subject matter. In doing so, it is my resolve to provide viewers with visual explanations of emotion that will hopefully make for a lasting impression.

 

Night Painting Statement

In the hours of night the outside world is cast with an unusual allure, evoking sensations that cease to exist with luminous sunlight. Familiar surroundings become less defined and opened to ambiguous impressions of solitude, comfort and the curiosity of the unknown.

It is the nocturnal ambiance that inspires my current series of night paintings. Focusing primarily on external representations of urban environments, my compositions combine the contrasting notions of comfort and anxiety, while jointly touching on the universal, yet common American theme of solitude. The calm of darkness inspires feelings of comfort and mental clarity that is uninterrupted by the bustle of daytime activity. Contrarily and perhaps simultaneously, anxiety stems from the invisibility of nightfall, the mystery and consternation posed by the incognizance of what lurks amid the dimming backdrop. In lieu of dictating unmistakable likenesses, I choose to convey an overall emotion that is implicit in nature and never truly defined.

 

Restaurant and Still Life Painting Statement

The fundamental nature of my aesthetic rests in the use of simple, quiet compositions that visually communicate emotion within the precepts of narrative realism: renderings of ordinary objects, subtle glimpses of everyday life. These images are collectively reflected on stillness, solitude, and mystery- yet with an element of comfort and familiarity.

My creative approach is driven by the desire to balance traditional principles of painting, contemporary design, and personal identity. This series of restaurant paintings draw inspiration from two artistic genres: 17th Century Dutch Still Life paintings and 20th century American Realism, as exemplified in the works of Willem Kalf, John Register, and Ralph Goings.

In my effort to combine traditional and contemporary design practices, I strive to create works of art that retain a timeless quality while incorporating contemporary subject matter. In doing so, it is my resolve to provide viewers with visual explanations of emotion that will hopefully make for a lasting impression.

 

Figurative Painting Statement

The colors and moods in these paintings reflect my admiration for 16th century Flemish painters such as Vermeer and Rembrandt. The subjects in these paintings are intimate observations of social gatherings.

 

Musician Painting Statement

Music and painting share a common vocabulary--colors have tones and harmonies while both are often referred to as compositions. James McNeill Whistler captured this idea by titling his paintings with musical expressions such as "Symphony" or "Nocturne." As a visual artist and musician, my paintings of musicians are about emotions and inspirations I have felt while playing or watching others play.

 

 

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