LATHAM, New York •  claydenart64@gmail.com

I'm a fine artist and illustrator specializing in painting and drawing both on and off the computer. I have always loved to draw and paint natural subjects, motivated by the colors and details of my subjects. I started my career as a graphic designer and illustrator before returning to school to earn my Masters in Art Education. I am fortunate to be able to work with young people, sharing my passion for the visual arts while continuing to create my own work. 

ARTIST STATEMENT​

 Rooted in representational painting I am drawn to the energy and the vibrancy I find in the natural world around me. As part of my emotional response, I imbue my description of natural subjects with lively colors. Influenced by my experience in graphic design, I am drawn to artists associated with Pop art such as Ed Paschke and Wayne Thiebaud. Their use of intense pigments and strong shadows to create glowing depictions of figurative and banal subjects inspires me to enhance my own paintings with vibrant hues. My painted figures, plants, natural elements presented with architectural or art objects are made bolder by emphasizing the formal elements of color, light, and shadow. I often choose to intermingle subjects which suggest an association to me. I begin by combining and superimposing parts of my chosen subjects’ imagery, enjoying the mystery of what the resulting composition will actually become. Overlapping imagery provides an opportunity for me to create areas of ambiguity and abstraction. As I paint, I focus on color relationships to enhance the connections and meaning associated with my subjects’ presentation. Areas accented with crisp vibrant edges reflect the contemporary aspect of painting and highlight my subjects, clearly defining their relationship. I want my finished paintings to be bold and colorful. Capturing the lively essence of my natural subjects is what ultimately compels me to paint them.