ALTKUNST
About the Artist
ALTKUNST.COM [email protected] Biography I received my Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking at the University of Oregon in 1993, where I taught lithography for three years as a Graduate Teaching Fellow. The uniqueness of my work has been recognized by several international artist groups. My primary genre is Fantastic Realism, a movement begun in Austria in 1948. It combines the imagination of Surrealism and the painterly aspects of Old Masters My artwork is greatly influenced by a 12-year residence in Europe, where I absorbed artistic genres from contemporary abstract expressionism to Old Masters. Also, many years living and traveling in the Middle East and Asia expanded my exposure to international art movements. |
Artist’s Statement “All great art is the work of the whole living creature, body and soul, and chiefly the soul,” (John Ruskin) It is the inspiration of the artist’s knowledge and emotion that breathes life into ink, paper and other media. Without it, art ceases to be anything more than decoration. Aesthetic, emotional or spiritual value derived from art results from self-discovery. This is the true nature of art; My artwork embodies the essence of this philosophy. My artwork is primarily intuitive, characterized by innovation and experimentation. I “invent” and portray imaginary objects and figures not seen in reality. To give life to my creations, I draw from both representational and nonobjective genre. The resulting works contrast images of fantasy and beauty, darkness and humor. The individual viewer’s vision, imagination, and experiences shape the ultimate interpretation of each image. My themes involve deeply personal and current social issues, but also include whimsical and interpretive elements from nature, both real and imagined. I draw from my subconscious to express myself in dreamlike images emerging from a stream of unconsciousness. Methodology Digital painting is not the reproduction of artwork created in other media. Each image is created, layer upon layer, on a blank “digital canvas,” using techniques similar to those used in traditional painting or drawing. Digital processes correlate directly to the use of brushes, pencils, oil pastels, charcoal and other media. The major departure is the absence of limits imposed by inks and paints. The only limits are mastering the digital medium and one's imagination. Artist Affiliations: The Saatchi Art Gallery (London) The Society for Art of Imagination (London) The Museum of Computer Art (New York City) Epilogue Fine Arts Artoteque Artists.de (Germany) The Tin Aw Galleries (Manila) |