David Derr

About David Derr

I was born in the spring of 1954 in North West, NJ.
I started drawing at a very early age due to the influence of a German woman and her son who lived next door to us. I have continued my interest in art and now work in the media of painting, mixed media on paper, digital paintings, photography and music.

I believe that humanities major talent is making symbols. We have been this way since the beginnings of our existence as a race. It is the reason we have a written language, music, painting, sculpture, dance, mathematics, the sciences and our entire civilization. This is the cornerstone of what it is to be a thinking human being. My painting, mixed media and digital works are his explorations into the creative spirit. The visual arts, music, dance, literature, myths, mysticism, spirituality and the sciences as well as everyday life all contribute in the creation of my images. Good paintings and drawings present subjects that engage the heart and soul on levels that words cannot. This is what visual artists do best, we create unique visual languages, languages that can convey layers of emotion and meaning at a glance through color, shape, form and line. This layering of imagery, sometimes opposite in emotion, engages the viewer to look deeper into their own souls to find the depths to each piece that are may not be initially apparent. Because of this layering many viewers see images in my paintings that were not consciously created, as if some mystical force was leading my hand during the creation of a work adding even more depth to the imagery. For me drawing and painting is about creating a space where both the creator and the viewers creative thoughts are set free to explore unexpected paths.