Hyperspace Studios

I am interested in subtlety and how an image can occupy space with nuance of form and shape. The work that I do has an atmospheric energy to it that is meant to reflect its context and environment. Where my live performance paintings might be more bold and vibrant, my studio work is more about how the art relates to the space it is in. I consider the surroundings the piece will be placed in, such as wall color and room ambience when thinking about the composition and tone choice. Many of these pieces are larger works with an average size of 3x5 feet, yet maintain an understated zen-like quality. 

 

I enjoy the full spectrum between subtle tones, pastels and vivid colors within my work. These are the distinctions in my color palettes that I am currently focused on and am greatly influenced by nature and what it invokes.

 

Often I'll paint from reference, using photos that I've taken which speak to me and warrant further exploration as a painting. I am drawn to the abstract qualities of how the shapes, forms and shadows create space. It is a dance of light and flow. 

 

The live performance paintings are usually done in short bursts of time. Some I have gone back into afterwards for further development, while still trying to maintain the energy and intent from the performance. My favorite thing about painting live is how the audience and other artists participating creates an interactive dynamic synergy to resonate with. Paintings done under these circumstances take on much different qualities than my studio work. I enjoy the contrast of these expressions.  

 

With the photo paintings, I began painting directly onto canvas prints of my photos in 2006 as a way to combine my interests and explore some of my favorite subjects further with a more individualistic interpretation than the photograph by itself allows for. I like the signature quality of brushwork, and mixing the photography and painting mediums into a hybrid of its own. The photographs that I paint on are like directional charts to dive further into. I find this very freeing and quite enjoy the process. Some are completely painted into with new shapes and spaces emerging, while others maintain a more photographic quality, using accents of paint to re-emphasize and energize the works.