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| modernhouston.net interviews american contemporary artist John Borys “A painting may start out with a well planned idea or no real clear direction at all. In either case, during the ‘process’ of creation, a concept becomes visual and tangible. Like it or not, the artist’s understanding of art history and the artist’s awareness of the current avant-garde are also factors. And finally, there is the painting itself. I am interested in the visual dialogue between all of these. In the end, artistic judgment and the ability to listen with your eyes to what the painting is saying, trusting the painting, following its rhythm and working in tandem with it - all these help the artist and art become one.” |
| ma: How long have you been an artist? John: I started when I was very young. I was drawing and creating art as a child. I received my Bachelor’s of Arts in fine art and commercial art from North Texas State University. I have been a commercial artist and creative director in the advertising industry for over 30 years. My paintings are in private collections throughout the United States, in Scotland and Singapore, among others. |
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ma: You mention in your artist statement that you are interested in the "visual
dialogue" between art history, the current avant garde and the art itself. Can
you elaborate on these relationships?
John: Art is connected in many ways. Studying Art History provides an
understanding of what has been explored in the past and what artists have
chosen to communicate within a particular time period. A work of art does
not exist in a vacuum. Even the most current art has a connection to past
works of art; it is part of a continuum. There have been artists who have tried
to erase the connection of themselves to their work or any reference to the
history of art, but a person can never escape one's own unique self - what
they have seen or experienced. The visual “language” of art has many
different executions. Studying art history allows an artist to see the different
visual vocabularies, and put into perspective how they have evolved. The
“isms”: realism, impressionism, fauvism, pointillism, cubism, surrealism,
minimalism, etc., are visual “languages” that need to be understood in
context. The broader the visual vocabulary, the more an artist can use it to
communicate contemporaneously from within him or herself. The current
avant-garde is also relevant. We live in an age of “re-mix”. The internet and
other technologies available today allow artists to see and use more
elements in the creation of their art than ever before. Being aware of what
other contemporary artists are creating broadens an artist’ s visual
vocabulary. Artists are making art right now, in this time period. Not like
art of fifty, a hundred, or hundreds of years ago. Art is a process. Sometimes
it speaks very softly, other times it is extremely clear. Mistakes and happy
discoveries are all part of the process. The creation of art has a beginning,
middle, and end.
dialogue" between art history, the current avant garde and the art itself. Can
you elaborate on these relationships?
John: Art is connected in many ways. Studying Art History provides an
understanding of what has been explored in the past and what artists have
chosen to communicate within a particular time period. A work of art does
not exist in a vacuum. Even the most current art has a connection to past
works of art; it is part of a continuum. There have been artists who have tried
to erase the connection of themselves to their work or any reference to the
history of art, but a person can never escape one's own unique self - what
they have seen or experienced. The visual “language” of art has many
different executions. Studying art history allows an artist to see the different
visual vocabularies, and put into perspective how they have evolved. The
“isms”: realism, impressionism, fauvism, pointillism, cubism, surrealism,
minimalism, etc., are visual “languages” that need to be understood in
context. The broader the visual vocabulary, the more an artist can use it to
communicate contemporaneously from within him or herself. The current
avant-garde is also relevant. We live in an age of “re-mix”. The internet and
other technologies available today allow artists to see and use more
elements in the creation of their art than ever before. Being aware of what
other contemporary artists are creating broadens an artist’ s visual
vocabulary. Artists are making art right now, in this time period. Not like
art of fifty, a hundred, or hundreds of years ago. Art is a process. Sometimes
it speaks very softly, other times it is extremely clear. Mistakes and happy
discoveries are all part of the process. The creation of art has a beginning,
middle, and end.
| #184,
93 1/2" x 42", Acrylic on Canvas, 2009 |
| ma: What makes art good art? John: Artistic sensibility is intuitive, learned, and connected to something bigger than one's self. I believe that Art is not created just to satisfy the artist. I create in order that others might see and experience something that they, (had I not created it), would not have seen or felt. ma: What artists have influenced you? John: Many different artists for different reasons come to mind: Di Vinci's drawings and inventions, Caravaggio's sense of light and dark, and Van Gogh's power of putting down what he felt and saw. I admire Rothko's ability to express a mood, Toulouse Lautrec’s ability to tell a story, Kandinsky's compositions, Deibenkorn's color palette, and Jasper Johns' use of metaphor and multiple meanings. I also like how Rauschenberg used silk screen, collage and found objects in his work, de Kooning's later work, and Pollock's use of overall line. |
Art verbs,
144" x 60" 2005, Inkjet & Acrylic
on Canvas, Private Collection, Singapore
on Canvas, Private Collection, Singapore
| #530
, 60" x 36", Acrylic on Canvas
, 2009 |
ma: What advice would you give to artists?
John: There is a great quote from Chuck Close about creating art, he stated:
“Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” To me, it
means it is in the “doing” the making of art. Every piece that I create leads me
to another piece, to explore and continue to push what worked and discard
what didn’t.
John: There is a great quote from Chuck Close about creating art, he stated:
“Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” To me, it
means it is in the “doing” the making of art. Every piece that I create leads me
to another piece, to explore and continue to push what worked and discard
what didn’t.
| for additional information www.johnborys.com |