Robert Solomon
Philadelphia, Pa and Greenwich, NJ
Website
robertmsolomon.com
Social Media
Instagram
How would you describe your work?
My work is painting from nature and sometimes landscape. It is expressionistic, impressionistic, visionary in the sense of idealized or heightened sensually. It is about color, form and the physical canvas. It begins with capturing a photo of something in the environment that holds something of particular painterly interest for me. This is oftentimes followed by sketches that provides clues to color or brushstrokes. The paintings require close examination of the photographs, but, begin to yield movement from representation into abstraction. My work is directly influenced by the location of my studio in rural New Jersey. Since I’m involved in observation, the paintings convey motion, shadows and light or reflections. If there is a truth to them, it comes through as self portrait rather than fidelity to a place.
What inspires you?
My studio definitely is a major inspiration and the environment around the studio. The paintings of Matisse, Cezanne, Bonnard are big inspirations. Modernist and modernism are labels that fit my temperament and interest. Design and drawing are qualities that I hope show in my work.
Can you speak about your process?
My process is typically using water-based paint and to a lesser extent oils. I make all paints from acrylic mediums, binders, dyes and dry pigments and water. I also use dry pigments and linseed oil. My ground on canvas is proprietary using calcium carbonate, PVA, water. This gives a surface that approximates paper since I’m looking for a water color effect in the beginning stages.
How did you become interested in art?
Becoming an artist is just that: you’re always becoming. Eventually, you do so much that it becomes like a job and you don’t have to think so much. If you are just beginning your journey, get involved with other like minded artists, start a gallery in your home and invite artists and friends. Invite your parents, they will cherish the memories. Try to be positive and optimistic, negativity and sarcasm have some place but humor and light have a place, too.
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
My favorite artists that influence my work are Matisse and Cezanne: they show the way forward in color and form, cubist and flatness, abstraction and thingness or placeness. There are so many contemporary artists I love I couldn’t list them.
