Artists Describing Their Art:
Mary-Ellen Campbell - Artist Statement I am very interested in the aspect of our aging society and its accompanying issues of loss of earlier strengths, health and death itself. I believe art can convey something special about this later period that has a beauty and a sadness not accessible in the youthful era of life. As a result, my latest artwork and Book Art investigates obsolescence and aging. I have started to write poetry and incorporate my poems in my books thus intertwining the visual and verbal arts. It is in this format that I bring my previous experiences together. I have continued to develop books that travel on both a physical and metaphysical journey. These themes are explored through personal history, aspects of aging, meanings across cultures and places, and concepts of nature. I make books with few and simple materials. I love to travel and produce portable art relating to my travel experiences and my observation of my themes in other places. ...
Luis Formaiano - Every single human being has a Mission. Sometimes we may not be aware of it but, if we are, we must then direct all our energy toward achieving it. My own mission is to give to all those who come into contact with my artwork, the opportunity to dream about other worlds, to step into dimensions in which everything and anything is possible, to forget their everyday problems. In brief, I want to encourage them to dare to step through the open door of my paintings, and to share the reflection of my inner world in its quest for the mystery of life. I was born in Buenos Aires in 1956. In my twenties, I moved to the UK (London) where I spent 4 incredible years in which I developed a longlasting admiration for PreRaphaelite and Symbolist painting. On my return to Argentina, I graduated as a Psychologist at the University of Buenos Aires, followed by a Postgrad in Art Therapy. I am permanently seeking answers to eternal questions at whose epicentre is MAN and the reason for his existence. The principles of the Gestalt Theory provide the bases for my artwork, but I also find inspiration in the works ...
Marja-Liisa Iivonen - After painting years (since 1982) traditional oil paintings, mostly portraits and still life, I started experimenting with clay sculptures in 1990 to find something new. Modeling tiny figures in clay, I started using those miniature sculptures as models to my paintings. By 1990-91 I had created my own ism: MARUism- " Manifestations Animees dans la Realite Unique ". Human relations, meetings, feelings and everyday happenings metamorphosed into animal-like forms in colourful worlds, expressed in a kind of subconscious world between Dali and Disney with a touch of Gauguin. MARUISM What is Maruism? - It is a new ism created by me, Marja-Liisa Iivonen. M.A.R.U.; M for Manifestations, A for Animees (Animated, lively), R for Realite (Reality) U for Unique. I grew up with Disney, admire Dali for his skill and brain and love Gauguin's colors. MARUism- " Manifestations Animees dans la Realite Unique ". Human relations, meetings, feelings and everyday happenings metamorphosed into animal-like forms in colorful worlds expressed in a kind of subconscious world between Dali and Disney with a touch of Gauguin. MANIFESTO OF MARUISM Maruism separates painting from the imitation of other artists and artistic movements, isms, and ...
Patrick Sean Kelley - Behind the Art There is nothing more intimidating than standing in front of a blank canvas and wondering what it will become. There is also nothing more exhilarating. As I begin to apply paint to canvas I find my work seems to be in continuous motion. Always changing. Always progressing. Much like the oil paints that actually embody my visions. I am influenced by many places, things, people and of course, many artists. My latest work is changing yet again. The palette has become softer more jewel toned and the subjects more somber. They speak to me as I paint each stroke awaiting life on the canvas. I am clearly influenced by some of the more modern masters like, Klimpt, Kandinsky, Mirot, Caldwell and as always, Picasso. The art is Inspired by the subject. By a woman's beauty as it is seen and felt both internally and externally. The images in my vision actually seem to mask their true identities as they glance out at the viewer exuding an air of aloofness and mystique. Each stroke is painstakingly smoothed and controlled to create subtle dimensions and color that create the mysterious creatures that appear to come to life on ...
Maria Sanchez - "Before I walked, spoke or even tasted life I saw color. I continue to view the world with all of it's tragedies, wars, peace and celebrations in color and recognize that the world we live in, is not just black and white. For the last 15 years my paintings have been hidden, only on display to family and friends. I have learned that to grow as an artist I have to share them and give them wings. I am mostly a self-taught artist.I paint in a very primitive style that is whimsical and fun. I was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and raised in Redwood City, CA. I married into the Mexican and Puerto Rican culture and have come to learn, love and enjoy all of the different music, food and celebrations that are now a part of my life. The language, art and history, are all things that play a major role in my work. I have found that I paint in "Spanish". It was my first language in the spoken world and continues to be the language of my soul when I sit down to paint. My paintings are images taken from my life...
Dana Zivanovits - Dana Zivanovits was born in 1958 in Columbus, Ohio and received his art training from the Columbus College of Art and Design (1978 to 1982). After art school, he went abroad for a year and studied the art of the old masters in London, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Venice. Returning to his studio in Columbus to develop these influences into a new body of work, he then traveled to Mexico and studied the sculpture and painting of that country for an extended period. The unique and vivid colors of Palenque and Vera Cruz intensified his palette. After a period in Ohio, he then moved to Venice Beach, California where the brilliant light of the region reinforced his desire to capture effects of sunlight and atmosphere. Returning to Ohio in 1995, he has continued to paint themes deriving inspiration form sources such as world mythology, classic and B-grade cinema, literature and dreams. However his primary inspiration is direct observation from nature, versus an approach based in art theories or cultural critique. Dana has been widely represented by galleries and exhibition projects including Julie Rico and Mega Boom in Los Angeles, the Venice Art Detour, Around the Coyote Festival in Chicago ...
Paul Orzech - Paul Orzech Sculpture Studio Artist Statement: The heart of my artwork is expressed by the words "Classical form with a modern edge." As an artist, I feel the need to incorporate the classic concepts of the human figure from the Ancient Greek and Italian Renaissance periods, with the more message-oriented elements of today's art. My belief in the beauty and power of the raw human form is exquisitely celebrated in the classical forms of sculpture. The modern themes I treat in my art include feminism; contemporary ideas of spirituality and love; and the all consuming presence time plays in our fast-paced American lives. I feel there is a quiet strength in the combination of established classics and contemporary expression that demonstrates a smooth continuity of social history. ...
Eduardo Diaz - Statement My name is Eduardo DIaz and Iim a Mexican artist residing in the Bay Area since 2001. In my work I express different elements of Mexican culture, while emphasizing its Native American heritage. I incorporate native themes and images, both extant and prehispanic, into my works and combine them with personal feelings, experiences or fears. Although cultural elements are the essence of my art, through them I also like to express political and social opinions. As a Mexican, I feel in touch with the problems at the Mexican-American border, as well as with the issues facing Mexican immigrants. I also like to express the tension between the indigenous and the industrialized worlds, and to analyze the different elements that make up Mexican identity, especially when confronted with life in a different country. My favorite medium is oil painting. I use vivid and deep colors, with which I reflect the light of the Mexican sun. Some of my compositions are figurative, and oscillate between realistic scenes and more elaborated images, with affinity to surrealism. My most recent productions are less figurative and combine the same vivid colors into expressive abstract constructions. Biography My name is Eduardo D...
Eric Garingalao - "Eric Garingalao is one of the new breed of Ilonggo artists whose art embraces the "absolute individualism" dogma. His works are devoid of pretensions. He perceives art as an honest personal conveyance without adversities and distractions from the outside. Experimenting on various mediums, he transforms the mundane into an interesting permutation of genres that deals with the restlessness of the body and the concepts and revolutions of the mind. His collages and abstract orchestrations are re-inscriptions of themes into new context manifesting gestural languages that shocks and provokes but are seductively intimate to the modern eyes. by: Ric Gindap...
Erik Hoynes - He specialty is creative and fantasy portraits created to his client individual needs and personality. Erik has been a Freelance Photographer in since 1992. I have Experience working in a wide variety of situations and locations from the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Cabo San Lucas, New Orleans, My specialty is location photography - bringing the studio to you. This allows me to use studio lighting and available lighting techniques together. Erik has been a Freelance Photographer since 1992 PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES: Corporate Events, Business Portraits, Weddings, Family Portraits, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs. Location Portraits, Commercial Brochures, Advertising, Annual Reports, Actors & Modeling Headshots. Clients include: HBO, W-Seattle Hotels, Grand Pacific Hotel, Dilettantes Chocolates, Expediters International, BF Goodrich, Boeing Landing Gear, Bill Gates Center for Technology, IKEA, Seattle Magazine, Seattle Symphony, Mary Bridge Children's Foundation, and more. For information Call ERIK In L.A. & Orange County and Seattle Cell ph 714-362-7527 or 310-497-3978 ...
Gudrun Ploetz - My paintings are all "wanted" paintings. That's a base thing I believe in. I think paintings and art in general is good if the artist wanted it and it came from his inside. Some artist "want" to do arts when they are down, some other paint when they feel well. I belong to the last ones. My paintings show the times my soul felt good. I can't paint when I'm down. Then I need music. But the more paintings I do in my good times, the longer I feel good. A good feeling, people I meet who touch my soul, warm words and good talks can inspire me a lot. And I want to transfer those, my good feelings to other people. Art is kind of healing, art can give you the power for the next step into the hard daily life process. That's why artists are necessary in this world, to make people happy, to give their eyes and their souls a gentle touch, to inspire them to try it themselves, to come in contact with paint and drawing pen. My paintings are all around colour, the first thing I notice myself at a painting ...
Stella Rich - My work celebrates and commemorates Lost Moments. We all loose moments constantly throughout our lives especially in the lives of our children with them growing and changing so rapidly. My work memorialises the fragments of our lives that are lost forever. Much of my work is of a traditional nature in that it is realistic to a certain extent. However I express the idea of the picture being a memory by cropping the image to allow the viewer to catch a'glimpse' of the scene being portrayed. Another way that I suggest the idea of the scene portrayed being a memory is to blur and distort the image by dragging a brush through wet paint, using solvents to change the appearance of the paint and experimenting with various different materials and techniques...
Matthew Hickey - Matthew Hickey is a 38 year old artist originally from Levittown, New York. He graduated with honors from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan in 1995. He lives and works in the northeast of England, and his work is featured in private collections worldwide. Figure paintings as well as portraiture and landscape are the focus of Hickey's career, offering a prevailing and unique insight into the optical nuances of this new century. Commissions and studio visits are always welcome at Hickey Studio. Call or email for inquiries, questions, comments. ...
Hisham Zreiq - My art is a private perspective on life, private pains and disappointments, society, Death and a philosophical look at life. Death is the source for creation and the motor of life. Crucifixion a symbol for pain, pain caused by social, political and religious systems. I think that art is another way to communicate, to express my ideas , for me art should have a message of a sort. This is the way I saw art when I was a little boy trying to express his Ideas with simple drawings, and this is the way I see art when working on my digital art or writing poetry today. Some times I ask myself, if we can reach people through "reason"! but I think its better to get to people's hearts through emotions, through ART, and from there we might get to their reason. Or maybe use extremes in art - and that is what I usually try - in order to make people think and ponder after their emotions become tens. Then their analyses might bring with it reasoning. ...
Jerry Di Falco - Photography inspires my art and acts as a vital element in my etchings. The images I employ originate from my own photographs, as well as from the images I find from my research into the digital archives of universities, historical societies, libraries, and museums. Upon locating a documented scene I wish to etch, my first step involves the execution of two to five original drawings of the photograph. My collaboration between photography and printmaking allows me the independence to integrate my personal interpretations into the scene. Moreover, I create bridges between the physical and metaphysical visual realities in the same way that a camera intersects with human creativity . . . the nexus between the mechanical and the cerebral art tools. Art unveils everything that we mask behind our belief systems conversely, I strive in my creations to clarify those phenomena we overlook as a result of our egocentric assumptions. Ironically enough, I blame this failure to notice things, a process I label, the phenomenology of connectedness, on todayaEURtms very infatuation with and addiction to the new communicational technologies of social media. My artworks therefore become like windows through which to examine the mysteries of aEURoeeveryday consciousnessaEUR. In fact, my use of ...