AWT ARTIST STATEMENT

Introduction.

I am a Canadian-Costa Rican Artist who creates abstract works of art. My paintings are complex and structurally fragmented in composition, metaphorical and conceptually enigmatic in character, and are vaguely representative of maps, mazes and urban imagery.

Influences.

My approach to painting reflects my multi-cultural personality, which really is a mosaic of my experiences that have evolved from my contrasting cultures. Part Canadian, English speaking and part Costa Rican, Spanish speaking. An expressive visual artist and part pragmatic professional designer, student and part teacher.

As long as I can remember, art and popular culture has always motivated the direction of my life. Having lived in and traveled to the largest cities and the smallest towns across Canada, the United States and Latin America, I have always recognized and absorbed meaningful facets of rich and disparate cultures on my path. The composition of my life is as fractured and refined as a compelling and complex mosaic.

Inspirations.

As an Artist, I am inspired by aspects of past and present cultural references. I enjoy seeking out stimulating and amusing cultural remnants that are worth experimenting with and imaging. In particular, I am really fascinated by the emotional power of music, the intricate detail of maps, the puzzlement of mazes, the mercurial nature of fashion, and the quintessence of geometry.

Techniques.

I develop my own themes, label them, and create integrated series of works that call for the use of multiple mediums. Frequently I mix media including: acrylic and spray paints, pastels, inks and charcoal on a wide range of diverse materials like canvas, illustration board and fine art papers. My concepts often call for the use of handcraftsmanship where I introduce the elements of cutting stencils and making masks, and by layering or superimposing contrasting paints or materials to create more texture and variety.

Formats.

The signature painting of any series is often the largest, conveying the impact of scale, and I also create medium and small format works within the same theme.

Motivations.

Painting provides me with endless novelty. It’s the visceral pleasure of making a bold brush stroke arcing across a canvas that essentially motivates me to paint. The thrill of making a powerful image, that pleases me personally, and stimulates other's aesthetic experiences, ultimately serves my desire to passionately express my own notions and emotions. And when the elements of art all fit together into a pleasing result, it’s always an exhilarating crescendo.

Conclusion.

As a dedicated artist, I really love to explore themes, to experiment with styles, and to exploit varying techniques. There are no rules. I just follow my instincts. To me, my art finally portrays the multiplicity of singular expressions of my own distinctive journey as an individual artist.

Allen Webster Tracey.