John Walker, Recent Works - July 5 through 30
An exhibition of recent works by artist John Walker will be on view at Park Row Gallery, 2 Park Row, from July 5 through 30. An opening reception will be held July 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Walker will exhibit both traditional oil paintings as well as paintings completed completely with a computer.
"I came from a painting tradition, and was introduced to computer in the mid 80s. At that time the tools just were too expensive for the individual artist to incorporate into their work. Eventually my career moved away from art and toward computers, becoming a consultant and developer," said Walker.
Walker explained that he finds his new artistic exploration fascinating as he watches technology become more an more specialized.
As a nature lover, Walker's work is often inspired by all manner of flora and fauna from his gardens to his big dogs.
"I find it hard to put a label on my work," he said. "Digital collage is probably an interesting way to see it. I add and scrape things away the same way I would in oil paint, I'm just working with a stylus instead of a brush.
"In my recent work I'm not making a huge distinction between painting as it is traditionally considered and the computer with respect to its aesthetic value. I don't think there should be. Like a brush and paint, the computer is just another tool."
And although the computer seems to have ages to catch up to the tactile process of painting with brushes and oils, it offers another attribute that Walker finds even more liberating.
"The computer makes learning how to express yourself through a painting process more accessible. This is because one can go more rapidly through the practice and visual testing required to be good at any media with less cost than with traditional painting supplies. This is also true of the difference between continuous tone photography and digital photography." In addition to making the works with a computer, Walker is also shaping his exhibit online having started a blog explaining his thought processes while he was working and producing the finished works. Visitors can go to http://john.walker.name and comment on his progress.
"I always wonder what's going on in the artists' mind while they were making something. This just kind of shows the clutter in my mind as I was preparing for the show. I just put it out there for people if they want to know. We'll see where it goes from there."
For more information about John Walker, visit
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