"Awake"

                              Acrylic

Featured Painter

Val Welman

Painter, printmaker, sculptor. Retired professor of art from the University of Washington.

Interview of Val Welman, January 2006

Artist Statement

"....My work reflects a desire to synthesize the interplay between process, imagination and feelings.  After studying formal trends and concepts along with the techniques,...it seemed futile to adopt them all and not really necessary to adopt any.  However, these early studies led to exploring personal ideas concerning not only concepts toward painting, but the procedures of art ways. An attitude of wanting my work to express inventiveness rather than perfecting a 'formalism of identity' evolved the approach.

My major concern has been to not allow subject matter, color, theory, ideology nor desire to label the efforts, to interfere with the creative urge.  This is a severe personal challenge relying on emotional response and composure, adjusting to changing results as they develop.

The commitment to perform on these terms without resorting to formal tricks and concepts means constantly adopting new demands. Patience is the sustaining force."

"Concentric Contortions"
Steel