Old Kirk, Amsterdam Drawing

I am a painter who works both figuratively and abstractly. I started as an abstract painter expressing my emotions, suggested by figures and many other sources, into play of abstract shapes and flat color patches. Gradually this has changed into an interest in figurative forms themselves including trees and flowers, rocks and water, elements of architecture. In 2014 I began working in watercolor. My land, sea, and cityscape watercolors are all done plein air with intention to capture the moment’s play of light. The works are a multilayered mix of line drawing and color patches applied in great pace. Some elements of abstraction are presented in the mostly figurative works. I also draw in pen and ink. The directness of pen drawing is most attractive to me. Pen drawing lead me to a needle work on copper etchings, which occupies me much recently. Whether I am painting a figure or working more abstractly, there are similar issues to solve, such as composition, light and shadow, balance of line and color. Above all, each work must be itself. There has to be first an idea or a feeling that the work suggests, and then all the steps have to be done for it to take its own personality. Artist currently lives and paints in New York City. His works are in private and corporate collections in United States and other countries.