Reception Date: Saturday, November 11th 2023
Hours: Weekdays 7-3 pm & Weekends 7-5 pm
Artist Statement:
Observationally painting the still-life genre has always been a fascination of mine, it contains all the many layers of autodidactic traditional painting. On the rudimentary, challenges include; draftsmanship, color theory, texture, and most importantly the context and construction of the image. The paintings evolve into artworks that meld collage, minimal presentations, and concepts of habitat. My medium of choice has always been oil paint, I find the modeling properties to be endless and timeless. The brushwork presentation ranges from forced illustrative techniques to loose impressionistic interpretation that results in a unique representational style, balancing between realism and naturalism. I employ a limited palette with modest color schemes to create a harmonious picture plane, capturing ranges of value and bright infusions of color. After receiving a BFA in Fine Arts, I began working in fine art bronze casting foundries before becoming a professional painter in the late 2000s. I have been exhibiting in non-traditional and traditional galleries in the Pacific Northwest since then, with numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the past decade. Featured work has graced nationally recognized album covers and has been showcased in various publications.
As a long time resident of both Oregon and Northern Wisconsin, provincial influences make up the core of my paintings. In addition, I gravitate towards and pull from historical painting genres, such as Flemish Still Life, Post-War Pop Art, and Americana. All aspects of my paintings are crafted by myself in my basement studio, from building canvases, acquiring props, and building frames. When I am not engaged in my painting practice, (“A painter should be in the studio daily even if only for a few hours”), time is spent enjoying many hobbies that include; cycling, fishing, gardening, painting plein air, and birdwatching.
@hickorymertsching
hickorymertsching.com