GBP Painting

Douglas Karson is an American-born artist living and working in Bristol. Self-taught, his practice incorporates storytelling, poetry and ink on paper with a particular focus on painting. Bold colour, geometry and a sensitivity to line and balance characterise his paintings, which are informed by personal and spiritual philosophies. His ongoing series, THE RULES, uses elements from Greco-Roman philosophy, Chinese mythology, Yogic theory and Hindi philosophy to formulate a process of painting-as-manifesto, or manifesto-as-painting. A rigid formal framework and methodology engenders infinite potential outcomes, each a cross-cultural message suffused with subtle politics. Douglas believes passionately in creating and nurturing artist communities. He founded Art Battle UK, a live painting event that brings artists and art lovers together in a unique environment. Douglas has participated in and organised over 30 group and solo exhibitions internationally in the UK and the United States, and his work has been featured in magazines such as Art Reveal and Creativ Paper.