Todd Williamson is an abstract American painter shown internationally for his ability to establish a harmonious meeting of reality and imagination. His latest exhibition, "Blurring the Lines," is a personal favorite of mine. What I love about Todd's latest series of work is the emotional polarity that exists in every piece. The works are undeniably moody and powerful, and at the same time they somehow bring peace and calmness...like a question that's answered in a single work of art.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Todd to dig a little deeper about his work:
SY: I believe that artists are Sociologists. They have an innate ability of feeling where society is at and where it's going. Are there any particular shifts that you're feeling right now, and would you forecast for us?
TW: Artists always seem to have an innate ability to feel the pulse of the world. I think the entire world is in flux right now. We are all still getting our balance from the economic meltdown. I think this will have a huge effect on the art world as we recover.
SY: The first time I saw your work, I immediately felt a connection with the work of the Italian Artist Lucio Fontana, especially his "Concetti Spaziali" series where he puts slash marks on monochromatic canvases to create an actual dimension of space. How does the concept of space inspire you in your work?
TW: Big compliment! I love Lucio's work…he is a master! Space is vital, but for me it's more about balance within the space. To be successful the work has to have a balance to the eye. It must feel complete and it must be pleasing to my sense of structure. My work is really more about light and the use of it in the fields of color and the way they interplay together.
SY: Color affects mood. Is there an emotion that you are trying to evoke in your audience with your current color palettes?
TW: LOL, they change ever day and with every work! I have always been known for my reds and blues. Fitting huh, hot and cold. I am an Aquarius! Usually the venue that I am preparing a show for dictates my use of color. New York is bolder than Tokyo, LA is brighter than Naples.
SY: What is your artistic process? Are you regimented, or do you only pick up the brush after any provocations (love/sex/fight/eat/sound/memory)?
TW: I'm both. Anything can inspire me as well as an underlying feeling just to put paint to canvas. I don’t paint well when I’m not happy and it shows.
SY: Professionally or in the everyday, what are you excited about?
TW: I'm starting a new group of Los Angeles artists. We are going to create a group that works together, drinks together, supports each other, etc... It's something that is needed in LA and it's time has come. I know more artists in Europe than I do in LA...
SY: Your paintings are divided with several horizontal lines like the staffs from a sheet of music, and there's a vibrational feeling like that of sound waves in your brush stokes. Is it safe to say that music fuels your work?
TW: Yes I was a voice major in undergrad. I graduated from a small private university (Belmont) with a very important music department. I did a show at the university in January. Music is always playing as I work. The titles of my work come from whatever catches my attention within a song lyric. Alternative rock and country are my main things.
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