New Work & Art Influences
My work often looks like other people's work. And I'm okay with that.
I am influenced by everything I read, see, hear and experience. But I'm also heavily influenced by other artists. This is not a bad thing. In fact, I think its the nature of the process. Nothing ever happens in a vacuum. Everyone has influences.
Some of my influences include Expressionists from the beginning of the last century: Pablo Picasso, Franz Marc, and Paul Gauguin to name just three. My influences also include modern abstract expressinists from the midcentury period: Cy Twombly,
, Lee Krasner, collage genius Conrad Marca-Relli, and in her own category, portraitist
. I also love the work of my contemporaries like
,
,
,
,
,
,
, and most recently my studio mate
. The artworks created by these lovely people are always a part of my inner landscape.
These artists are all very different from each other. But they all end up in my own work in one way or another. Every time I step to the canvas, I feel them with me in some small way. This gives me courage. Am I borrowing from them? Absolutely. Am I copying their work? Absolutely not. I understand it as a time-space-warp-dialog. They are my helpmates.
Here is my latest piece from the studio. The image is from a live model I sketched two weeks ago during
. Its entitled "Liminal" - 36 x 36 inch acrylic on canvas.
With this post, I simply wanted to acknowledge that I come from a
lineage of art makers who keep me engaged and seeking as I make my own work.
I am always filled with gratitude that I live in a world filled tip-top with art.
Who are your influences?
Who keeps you hungry and engaged?