DIRK PARSONS

ARTIST STATEMENT

     My interest is in defining the complexities of random chaos.  I begin my work without limits or expectations.  The process of painting is a journey beginning with a vague idea becoming more defined as the painting reveals itself.  The more I embrace the commitment and consequence of constant change the more compelled I am to learn how "the story" ends.

     I have no real influence in art other than what I see in the paint itself.  I start a piece by putting colors on the canvas in a haphazard manner.  I usually have no preconceived notion of what the painting will look like.  At most I have a vague idea or feeling when I start.  Then I define the colors and shapes  that I see with black. This gives the painting depth and structure.  Finally I highlight everything in white which gives high contrast and makes every detail important.

  My pieces often explore earthly elements through a whimsical view of possibilities in color, movement, and texture.  Subtle hints of  imagery often become  stronger and more defined as a piece progresses.  This gives birth to more imagery and a mysterious world emerges that seems far away and yet familiar. The imagery and symbolism can become far more felt than understood which often makes it difficult to name a painting.  Ultimately, my hope is that the viewer finds their own personal meaning in my work and that it will evoke a notion of aesthetic beauty for its own sake.