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Artsy Shark presents the exquisite portfolio of featured painter William R. Beebe. Find out more about this talented artist by visiting his website.

Witnessing in present day what someone else saw a hundred years ago or more inspires me to paint not only the historic wooden ships I have admired for years but also the many wonderful European villages and towns I have recently discovered.

I see myself as an old soul with an appreciation of beautiful places and objects that have withstood the test of time.  The weathered but well maintained subjects possess character and interest which adds a richness and depth to a painting.

The interpretation of the scene, what the artist conveys through expressive brushstrokes, unique perspective and creative color usage is what separates the ordinary from the masterpiece.  Since my art is a form of self-expression, I carefully and sometimes painstakingly review the vast array of subject matter in order to commit myself to the time required to create a painting that will fulfill my expectations.  I endeavor to be meticulous about detail and accuracy, creating paintings that stand up to a critical eye.

My initial visualization determines the level of detail and style in the beginning, although I am not averse to breaking down a painting that has been over developed in order to improve it.  Each painting goes through an evolutionary process, never formulated.  On the contrary, I prefer to go with moments of spontaneity and enjoy having the paint surprise me.

Through the years I have admired the maritime work of John Stobart, Thomas Hoyne and Donald Demers.  Recently I’ve been more influenced by the American and European Impressionists.  Studying the work of Sicily, Monet, Whistler, Frank Benson, Sargent and Chase has challenged me to look at each new project with a more open mind.

I’ve evolved to a place where I most certainly appreciate realism and the expertise necessary to achieve it but creativity of style, usage of paint, careful selection of color and tone all have become as interesting and important as the composition itself.  Achieving a painterly work is a high priority.  I want my paintings to endure over time just as my beloved subjects have throughout the years!

Artsy Shark presents the vivid, energetic portfolio of British abstract artist Marc Lawrence. Learn more about Marc’s work by visiting his website.

What are You Working On?

Colour is my key to the door of an Aladdin’s cave. When I treat colour effectively, it’s like revealing a treasure trove of exciting and unexpected things in a secret place. The art of painting colours on top of and adjacent to each other to me, lends an artwork a particular depth of feeling unobtainable in other mediums.

I’m currently working on a series of abstract paintings where my use of colour is less thick than normal. Using acrylics gives me the option of laying colour with varying degrees of viscosity which can yield markedly different results. The thinner the layer then the more transparent the paint will be, which in turn alters the colour and feel of the underlying layer.

Consequently I have found that I use less effort in physically scraping back layers of dried paint using sand paper, a technique I have come to appreciate that allows a unique look and feel to the canvas surface. This then allows me more time for colour consideration and mark-making. Although this latest process is less labour intensive, the overall result of this technique reflects the energy and spontaneity of a chemical reaction.

These new explorations in colour challenge an inherent resistance I had to using colours unhindered. It has been a liberating performance and experience for me and I view these new paintings as each having a life and character of their own.

What Inspires You?

US artists Robert Rauschenberg and Mark Rothko and UK artists Howard Hodgkin and Patrick Heron have all produced work that amazes me. Their use of colour is markedly different but they each have a clear fascination with how it can be manipulated in order to convey emotion.

The location of my studio at the foot of the North Downs, South East England serves as a huge motivation and I can create highly charged works here. So, to simply reproduce a scene would be to do it no justice at all.

The amazing thing about abstract art is that it’s incredibly accessible. You don’t need a degree to appreciate something that uplifts, saddens or makes you want to look harder. British artist Brian Clarke sums up his motivation with stunning simplicity:

‘So long as I remember the power of liberating oneself through imagination and through the subjective interpretation of the world I feel I can go anywhere.’ Brian Clarke

What Are Your Goals?

In the near future my paintings will include imagery produced by silk screen printing directly onto the canvas. I’ve built my own screen printing studio in my garage and I’m keen to combine these two disciplines. My older screen prints portray a contemporary, urban and edgy style and this is a look which will soon inhabit my canvases. Transparency and colour can be manipulated in different ways through printing and it is these relationships that fascinate me with my art and is an obsession that I can see myself pursue vigorously for a long time yet.

Developing productive relationships with clients is a skill set I’ve recently learned to appreciate. Selling is not just a one stop shop, if someone admires your work then as an artist you should understand why in order to provide your audience with more product without selling out. Learning the business side of being an artist is just as important to me so I thank Carolyn at Artsy Shark for the unending advice and guidance.