Brian Whalen (Painting)

First Name: 
Brian
Last Name: 
Whalen
Media: 
Painting, Printmaking, and Drawing
City, State: 
Medway, MA

Artist Statement

I am a self-taught artist and I have worked hard to set up an original style by experimentation, the essence of which I experienced by watching artists at work.  My artist grandmother introduced me to the group of painters, sculptors and photographers in her studio building in SOWA when I was young and I got an opportunity to see the rigors of a painters life and the importance of learning to use and care for your materials. I am a contemporary artist who works abstractly. I usually start the process with an intention and a large mark on my canvas which I think of as my signature which gives me permission to proceed,  building up layers and deconstructing them using color, shapes and lines to display emotion...and sometimes text. Because I love words and because words can delight, enrich and enlighten, they open doors to my memory and provide an impetus to paint. To me there is a certain beauty adding words to my figurative work because the juxtaposition gives info about the subject which engages the viewer and hopefully touches the spirit.

Image1 Ttitle, size, medium: 
"A-1000213", 60" x48", Acrylic On Canvas
Image 2 Title, size, medium: 
"A-1000761" 60"x 48", Acrylic On Canvas
Image 3 Title, size, medium: 
"A-1000188", 74" x46", Acrylic On Canvas