Read artist’s bio.
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(Gallery of Bart’s art – coming soon)
Bart DeGraaf
From an early age I knew there was an artist inside of me. When I was in the 3rd grade, I remember going to the Chicago Art Museum and seeing the painting Nighthawks by Edward Hopper for the first time. I ended up purchasing a postcard at the gift shop and tried to copy the painting when I got home. It wasn’t the theme or the object that intrigued me, but the way in which Hopper captured my emotions through his color, and I found myself caught in his world at that moment in time.
At this stage in my life, I am influenced by the work of Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell. Both artists are abstract expressionists who focus on the act or process of the painting rather than the actual content. This method is what I aspire to capture in my own art.
I find the act of painting to be euphoric. I have a passion for color, texture, movement and design that I try to convey in my paintings. The imagery I use is pulled from my surroundings, experiences, and my imagination. My paintings begin by utilizing abstract shapes to fill the space on the canvas. From there, the painting evolves into compositions in which color and texture is the primary subject. The image is not the focus of the piece, but rather part of the process. My goal when painting is to have the elements of design, color and texture unleash a sense of emotion for the viewer. My hope is that when someone looks at one of my paintings, they make a connection and enter my world for a brief moment in time.
Recently, my work has been moving toward the abstract, trying to capture a sense of serenity and simplicity in my composition. To me, my art is about the process of discovery, the synthesis of my personal feelings, color that inspires me, and techniques that I use: it’s a piece of who I am.
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