JOHN WESTMARK

Since 1999, my work has been predominately influenced by Diebenkorn, and to a lesser extent, Matisse. I agree with their approach of moving beyond the initial architecture of a painting by concealing and correcting previous marks, with the goal of maintaining a stance of unself-consciousness and rightness. I believe that the relationship between the unconscious, spontaneous reaction and the premeditated, intentional mark is the key to a successful painting. Developing the intuition to know when, and when not to rework, is paramount. Ultimately it is this dichotomy that creates the painting - a collection of brush strokes and marks that reflects the energy and spirit of the artist at the time of its creation.

My subject matter is derived from collected experiences and memories. Each painting becomes a struggle to create a unique visual language - an abstraction of color and form - and not to adhere to a literal translation of a scene or object. This lack of dependency on the literal translation is usually a liberating aspect of the work.

Education:

BFA, Kansas City Art Institute, 1985

Exhibitions and Reviews:

2001 Bettcher Gallery, Miami, FL
1999 Mural installation, Youth Co-op Charter School, Hialeah Gardens, FL
1999 Work featured in Channel Magazine, February issue, Miami, FL
1998 Work on cover, Black Warrior Review, Spring/Summer issue, Tuscaloosa, AL
1998 Pensacola Junior College Visual Arts Gallery, Pensacola, FL
1997 Work on cover, Black Warrior Review, Fall/Winter issue, Tuscaloosa, AL
1997 Work featured in Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK
1996 Featured in The Oxford American, April issue, Oxford, MS
1996 Work featured Outside Magazine, November issue, Santa Fe, NM
1996 Work on cover, Zoland Books, Spring/Summer issue, Cambridge, MA
1996 Work on cover, Burning your Boats, Henry Holt Publishing, New York, NY
1996 Work featured in Seattle Weekly, Seattle, WA
1996 Work featured in Boston College Magazine, Summer issue, Chestnut Hill, MA
1996 Emerging Artists, Artel Gallery, Pensacola, FL
1995 Right Angles Gallery, Pensacola, FL
1994 Artel Gallery, Pensacola, FL
1994 Featured in Print Magazine's Regional Design Annual
1993 Bogart Gallery, Pensacola, FL
1986 Featured in How Magazine's Self Promotion Annual
1985 Kansas City Art Institute, permanent collection
1985 Kemper Gallery, Kansas City, MO
1982 Pensacola Junior College Visual Arts Gallery, Pensacola, FL

Awards:

1992 Award of Merit, New Orleans Art Directors and Designers Association, New Orleans, LA
1982 Award of Merit, Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola, FL