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I paint in the classical realist
style, often starting with an under painting and working in layers. I was
fortunate enough to study these techniques with Nancy Conrad, a student
of Jacques Maroger. Maroger was former technical director of the
Louvre laboratory and president of the Society of Restorers of France.
He researched the lost painting formulas of the Old Masters, which he
published in The Secret Formulas and Techniques of the Old Masters in
1948.
At my studio, I make my own medium,
varnish, paint, and 'black oil'. Many of my colors are dry
pigments mixed with the ‘black oil’. ‘Black oil’ is the basis for all of Maroger’s mediums.
By carefully taking these traditional steps, each painting has a special
quality of
permanence, transparency, shadow,
brilliance, and luminosity that is recognizable.
When I create a painting, I
attempt to establish a focal point with the use of lights and darks, hot
colors and cool colors, and/or linear movement. I want to use that
focal point to capture the viewer's eye from a distance but then keep
the viewer exploring the rest of the painting finding other visual
interests. The longer the viewer explores a painting the more
enjoyable the experience becomes. I keep a tighter style at
the focal point but then loosen up and soften edges as I get to areas of
less interest. By painting this way, I want it to be realistic yet
still have movement and life.
A little more about me...
Artistic has always been a trait used
to describe me but not until recently have I ever referred to myself as
an Artist. Although this path was not clear to me, others may say they
always knew it. My 7th grade teacher once told me, during after school
detention, that she fully expected me to become a successful comedian or
artist. Luckily class clown does not equate to comedy. Also
recognizing my enjoyment for art, my aunt introduced me to Nancy
Conrad. From Nancy, I learned to oil paint in the classical style, the
proper use of Maroger Medium, and the formulas for making the medium.
Over the years I continued to paint but only considered it a hobby. The
hobby grew into a passion but it would be a long time before I would
pursue that passion with any serious intentions.
The road to arrive at this point in my
career has not been direct. I started college for engineering and
finished with business and horticulture. For over 10 years, my brother
and I owned and operated a lawn and landscape company in Baltimore
County, giving me the opportunity to use my talent to design
landscapes. In 2004 we sold the company and my wife and I moved to
Delaware where I began working as a loan officer. The slow real estate
market and tougher lending regulations have made the mortgage business
difficult and unfulfilling; however it has given me the opportunity for
the first time to commit fully to painting.
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