"Life
imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life". Oscar
Wilde.
Always loved that one. I believe Art is life, life is Art. Every single act we choose, every freedom we exercise, is a moment of creation. Right? Life is meant to sculpted and painted like a big, silky globe of clay.
There is a
particular freedom in the creation of abstract art that does not
exist in representational creation. Artistic expression can enrich
life in ways beyond explanation. I believe creativity is a prime
key in living life happily, and to its fullest. This is true for
those that appreciate art, create art, love art.
Why I Do It - Inspirations - My Style - Influences/ Favorites - Who I've Been - Who I Am - Education - Other Projects - Thank You
Why I Do It....
I paint because life becomes timeless when I do. I paint to say things I can't say with words.
Inspirations
Oh, all of Creation. Everything, everywhere. The beauty and challenges humanity creates.
My
Style
The freedom of
abstraction has been my main focus since 2004. In 2009, I began
combining my abstract work with realism. I have constantly, over the
years, moved about between representational, abstraction, or
surrealism, but continue to deepen my exploration of abstraction,
finding what works in my process. I tend to work in groups or series,
repeating colors or shapes to evoke or express what I'm feeling or thinking about.
Repeated images include circles, ovals, triangles, flames, and
arrows. You can always expect some extreme varieties of color from
series to series. Rich hues, subtleties, and contrasts are
essentials. I am really enjoying combining realism, the representational, with abstraction and symbolism,
and simply refuse to choose one over the other.
Influences/Favorites
I
have many, many influences- artists, writers, dancers, activists,
books, films, you name it. "Friends with You". I love them. I love them I love them I love them! Other artists would include April Gornik,
Remedios Varo, Artemisia Gentileschi, Johannes Vermeer, El Greco (Domenikos
Theotokopoulas), Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Mark Rothko, Wassily
Kandinsky, Gustav Klimt, Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Tamara de Lempicka,
Cecily Brown, Jean Michel Basquiat, and countless others. Some
favorite writers are Mary Shelley, Truman Capote, Barbara Kingsolver,
William Faulkner, and Angela Carter. I know, my taste is all over the
place, what can I say? Whatever moves me… films! I love movies.
Favorite actress: Juliette Binoche. Favorite actor: Johnny Depp.
Favorite director: Scorsese. Favorite film? I have at least 100…my
favorite comedy is Happy
Gilmore;
I think it might be my favorite movie ever! Actually, my favorite
film of all time is City
of God.
Favorite dancer: Eva Yerbabuena (Flamenco). Favorite activist,
speaker, and humanitarian? Martin Luther King, of course.
My influences constantly
drive me to create. I put a great deal of emotion into my works.
There's an extensive thought process, too, but that evaporates once I start painting. The feeling of timelessness, not thinking anymore, getting "lost in the moment", is all very interconnected. It's like expressing previous thoughts, that have interrelated feelings, without thinking about them anymore.
Music is enormously important to my painting process, as I usually
paint to music. Some favorites in that department are Love and Rockets, Santogold,
The Roots, Gotan Project, Richard Hawley, Johnny Cash,
Erykah Badu, Coldplay, Sigur Ros, Stars Above the Lid,
Delirium, Cocteau Twins, Handel's Messiah, and too many others to list.
Who
I've Been
Well, in my earlier years I was caught up in
things dark and macabre. The
Scream
was my favorite painting when I was eight. I still explore shadows, but my horizons have
broadened. Too much darkness made me too snarky. Creating is great therapy. If you
have demons, I highly recommend painting. It can be a great
emotional outlet.
Who
I Am...
This is my main philosophy: I want to take an active part in
my own evolution throughout my life.
I'm always hoping my spirit shines through while having this
human experience.
Education
My greatest teachers guided me, in
the best sense of the word. Not just that, they inspired. I studied at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Over the following years, I explored more in the form of spoken and written word. I also
felt drawn to business, and am now equally passionate about
it as well as art. I painted less frequently for a long time, until
my first trip to Tahiti several years ago. That trip started a creative pulse in me that has not left since, and
I suspect never will again.
Other
Projects
A
novel is in progress, and a primary focus. I will be posting sections
from it from time to time, and would love feedback. The title is
Above
the Equator,
and you can read the first chapter by clicking here.
I would
also like to write and illustrate a few children's books. One would
be about my darlin' departed dog, Max.
Thank
You
I
need to thank a lot of people. I've been blessed with great friends
and family who are so generous, kind, and loving. If I left you out
and you think you should be in here, tell me! But I think I've
covered everyone: me Mum, Dad-Bob, Jeff, Aunt Sherry and Uncle Jim, Aunt
Kathy and Uncle Jeff, Aunt Connie and family, Jennifer, Henny,
Jessica, Kent, Ousia, Tal, Jody and family, Andrea, Lad, Sandra, Eric
and Jen S., Erik D., Dave, Scott, Olga, Larisa, Brittany, Katherina,
Justin, Rick, Tristan, Tony, Karla, Luke, Hale, Kat, Marc-Eddy, Vasiliy and family,
Emmy, Mike B., Mike N., Rosaria, T., Jessica J., Brian, Betsy, Denny,
Paho, Nichole, Tom, Nick, Mike D., Thomas, Bruce, Tahra,
Laurie, Leslie P., Leslie S., Tim, Velton, Pierre, Patrick, Cecile
and family, Lea and Tuare, Max, Kenny, April, Devika, Jeff S.,
Bridget, Dozha, Cheryl, Natasha, Gemma, Puppy Face, Max, Jhen, Aidan,
Karen, Monika, Leroy, Sheldon, John, Helen and Matt, and Brandon.
Photo by Emmy Stewart