Artist Statement
As Pablo Picasso once said, “The world today does not make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?” I have a passion for the unexpected. It is confusing and unsettling yet it forces reconsideration and reflection. Life is filled with irony. One such irony is that of the artist statement itself, a written statement, deemed of high importance, produced by a visual artist whose talent lies in the creation of visual statements. As an artist I take pleasure in pointing out these ironies and incongruities. I am very conscious of the viewer. Many of my pieces are meant to make the viewer feel uncomfortable. I am interested in manipulating the audience.
My drawings often contain imagery and situations that are not possible. However, they are done in such a way that the viewer is almost convinced that they are possible. I call this work unrealistic realism. The subject matter is unrealistic, yet the style is realism. This paradox is what makes the viewer stop and look again. The viewer is no longer able to take anything for granted. These impossible situations often result from literalism, irony, and taking components out of context. Humor also plays a large part in my work.
The mystery and irony in my paintings is much more subtle. At first glance many of my paintings appear straightforward and even cliché’, but with a closer look and thoughtful deliberation, the oddities and contradictions appear. My most recent paintings contain no color. With the variety and abundance of colors available to a painter, and the generally accepted premise that painting is about color, I find the irony of a black and white painting to be a fascinating concept.
I am generally an analytical artist. I plan out most of my work and take great pleasure when the end result matches the vision in my head. Many of my works focus on my views and internal struggle in dealing with the narrow-mindedness and the black and white views of the general public.
My drawings often contain imagery and situations that are not possible. However, they are done in such a way that the viewer is almost convinced that they are possible. I call this work unrealistic realism. The subject matter is unrealistic, yet the style is realism. This paradox is what makes the viewer stop and look again. The viewer is no longer able to take anything for granted. These impossible situations often result from literalism, irony, and taking components out of context. Humor also plays a large part in my work.
The mystery and irony in my paintings is much more subtle. At first glance many of my paintings appear straightforward and even cliché’, but with a closer look and thoughtful deliberation, the oddities and contradictions appear. My most recent paintings contain no color. With the variety and abundance of colors available to a painter, and the generally accepted premise that painting is about color, I find the irony of a black and white painting to be a fascinating concept.
I am generally an analytical artist. I plan out most of my work and take great pleasure when the end result matches the vision in my head. Many of my works focus on my views and internal struggle in dealing with the narrow-mindedness and the black and white views of the general public.
