I create art because I find it impossible not to. Finishing a piece of art is as exciting and satisfying as starting one is frightening.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I really enjoy working with oil paints. The textures, and the depth one can achieve with it are unmatched, in my opinion. Working with it is always a constant learning experience, and a journey of discovery. I get something new out of every painting. And I love the smell of the paint and the linseed oils, and the tactile feeling of the brush gliding on the canvas.
Where do you find inspiration?I find so much inspiration and interest in the sea, and people who sail on it, their histories and stories. As a navy veteran I get a lot of inspiration from my own experiences as well as those who have come before me. The world may seem small in our technologically advanced world, with people going from one continent to another in mere hours, and immediate communication with people on the other side of the globe, but to a sailor it is still very much a big world full of new people and places.
What would you do with $25,000?Finish a huge project I’ve been working on for the past 8 years, creating portraits of every Pearl Harbor survivor I was able to meet and interview from all over the country. The plan is for the complete collection will be donated to the Pearl Harbor Memorial and National WWII Museum if they will accept them. I would also try to fix the electrical wiring in my house and studio.
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