ON EXHIBIT at the Firehouse until September 8th, 2019, the work of Raymond Paradiso.
Using abstraction, intense color, and active surfaces to create dynamic expressionistic compositions Raymond Paradiso invites the viewer’s imagination to run free.
Artist Statement: “As a painter, my experience of the landscape inspires me. Trees in particular are my muses. In a grove backlit by the setting sun, each tree casting long shadows, I see abstract shapes, geometric forms, and the juxtaposition of color. Departing from direct representation, I use varying degrees of abstraction, intense color, and active surfaces to create dynamic expressionistic compositions. My work relies on the impression it conveys and invites the viewer’s imagination to run free.
As I apply oil paints in bold brushstrokes, often using a palette knife to build texture, I don’t have a preconceived notion of how the painting will look when it’s finished. Sometimes scraping paint off or wiping away aspects of the composition yields a surprising transformation, or reveals a subject’s true essence. Every painting is a roller coaster ride, a struggle to balance learned technique and discipline while following the ever-changing image in my mind, and letting the painting dictate what it will be.
The ability to create something striking and beautiful through the simple act of putting paint on canvas will always compel me to keep painting. The Uprising Collection of paintings is my venture deeper into using even more abstraction to convey the beauty of the landscape. While still preserving the use of deep vivid colors and a sense of impressionism, I create these paintings with little tie to reference photos and by applying paint almost exclusively with a variety of palette knives.” (Raymond Paradiso)