Richard Currier

“The most difficult task for many artists is to describe their artwork to someone who asks, “Why is this done?” or “What does this mean?” Unlike a work of literature, within the words and pages lies the message and must be read to understand the meaning. A painting for the viewer exists in its entirety, everything the artist intended within the surface, exposed, for everyone to see. The artist's task complete, it is up to the viewer to decide if the work deserves their attention. For the artist, there are no right answers, only questions posed from imagery. The viewer, if the work intrigues him, must find his own answers as to why. Often this results in a wide variety of interpretations, the response of one may be completely different from another. Therein lays the beauty of art.

For me, the questions for understanding have always been the same: it is the response that changes depending on the circumstances. What was considered absolute in another time or place demands a new interpretation in this time and place. Therein lays the purpose for art.

In my paintings, I have always been drawn towards dramatic imagery, using contrasting elements of color, shape and space. I paint until the objects become more than what they are. This seems to result in a heightened reality to the images although 'realism' is not necessarily the goal. I enjoy the balance of positive and negative space, pulling imagery from the space as well as pushing space back to expose the form.

The subject of my paintings, to me, has always been the fusion of light and form. The objects carry that light and form within the space, and to provide a reference for the viewer.

This relation of the artwork and the viewer is a very important one. Art needs an audience and is incomplete without one.

-Richard Currier