F i n e A r t
Steve Roberts I view my art as an expression of communication through visual medium. Of course I love to get into the philosophy that seems to run on and on and on in my mind. Expressing that philosophy as an inquiry is what I am about as an artist. One might, at first glance, say “He uses paint as his medium,” and that would be technically correct. I really do love working with a limited color pallet. I’ve spent years intensely studying color theory and the use of different pigments and how they mix together. I meticulously mix virtually all my colors from just six or seven pigments. In my view it is important to be involved at this level of creativity and mastery to think of myself as a fine artist. However, my use of a brush and paint is just one facet of the medium of my expression. I say that I use pigment, binder, and water on a ground as a medium to create the medium of color, light, shape, and composition, which create the medium of objects in space, which create the medium of words and statements and ideas and clichés and points of views and symbols, which create the medium of inquiry that represents my communication. I do it all to evoke mental pictures, thought, emotion, and feeling for the viewer, though not thoughts about me the artist or the art itself, but about the idea. The art becomes participatory, the final artifact being created in the mind of the viewer. It is the same way for me with composition as it is for working with color. I view pristine composition as one of the hallmarks of being a fine artist. I wouldn’t think of beginning a canvas without having gone over the composition, perhaps with many sketches for form, value, positioning, darks, lights, movement, and so on. It’s not that I don’t appreciate ‘happy accidents’, it’s just that I feel that relying on the happy accident without all of the intention, creative thought, and preparation is the gulf between being professional as a fine artist and being hopeful. I start every one of my pieces with intention. I know what I want to say and I’ve named the canvas before I start. Almost invariably I write in paint the name of the piece on the canvas in large letters before I begin. I am a pristine draftsman. Yet often you will see me intentionally abstract or distort the figure by stretching, curving, or compressing the form to create the illusion of power or motion, or even emotion. You could say I’m using the medium of the human form along with the medium of paint to tell my story, to invite the viewer into my inquiry. When that inquiry occurs in the viewer’s mind, my art is successful. I often fill the piece with hidden symbolisms. I’ll include suggestive positioning, composition, and even the whole piece to create a subtle second meaning. I use subtitles to represent the additional inquiry though some remain hidden only to be discovered, or elicited from me in playful conversation.
Steve Roberts ,,,,,,
paints from a perspective that incorporates the abstract with the representational while using the figure as basis for a transformational inquiry in paint. One is left with the impact of vibrant color, light, form, and composition as well as with the spiritual and philosophic nature of his probing inquiries. It has been said of Steve that he thinks like a philosopher and paints like an angel.
Steve began drawing at 5 years old and painting at 13. Though primarily self taught, he has been trained in meticulous draftsmanship, developed himself as a master watercolorist, and has also studied portrait painting with Robert Maniscalco. Steve’s talent is matured, his eye trained, his style fresh, and his execution immaculate.
Artist Statement
