Painting New Projects My People Artwork in Situ Source

Artist's Statement

Focusing on imperfections, celebrating what's broken and revitalizing the bland. Bad tangents, chipped paint and occasional alternate perspectives dictate the mantra within. 

For me, art is a constant struggle between maintaining control and giving in to chaos. With the paintings I'm currently working on, control is starting with a linear structure made from the bones of my own line drawings. I tend to see lines as a form of containment or boundary. A designed structure that sets compositional definition. Ironically there is also an element of play and freedom in repurposing old illustrations that has opened up this path to explore. While I'll often have a basic color direction in mind, the chaos happens in color and texture as paintings begin to evolve and develope focus. Large paintings within the confines of an interior space increase the inescapable sense of motion and tension. From a distance, the less imposing work can easily be seen as one identifiable whole, but up close the viewing experience is more fragmented and detailed. The results are perhaps best described as a form of visual chatter. A feeling not unlike entering a room full of people all talking at once. 

The second half of my thinking process is more of an external visualization. I live in Los Angeles and I have been looking for ways to connect my art in the studio to life outside. The streets and the walls downtown have a memory of their own. A visceral, textural history that I can dig into and gain inspiration from. That energy has a volume. Life on the streets of downtown Los Angeles can be hard, dirty and severe. At first glance seemingly dysfunctional and beyond regard, however, if you are here long enough you start to notice a rhythm and character that is truly unique. As broken as some things may appear, there is a pulse here that keeps you moving forward. A heightened focus with a sharpness to it that makes you feel alive. To really get to know this place takes time. 

Combining both internal and external experiences into one fluid path of expression is all I could ever ask for. As an artist finding a voice, I see the beauty and originality of imperfections, cherish what is broken and will always continue to resist the bland. 

Tanner