Paul E Mathisen is showing his new work titled Transcending Topographical Landscape at State of the Arts Gallery on State Street in downtown Sarasota. Mathisen’s work is exposing the landscape through the spectrum of eastern philosophy.
Paul Mathisen has been represented by State of the Arts Gallery since 2009. The Transcending Topographical Landscape Series are original works of art with no computer or photo manipulations. They are aerosol paintings on handmade wood panels.
Mathisen studied Japanese ceramics and Asian cultures at Bradford College, taught by the late professor, Marvin Sweet from 1994-1998. There he was taught how to see and know beauty. Mathisen bases all of what he does in paint on the idea of beauty, perfect in all of its imperfections. He also studies the work of minimal sculptures and has incorporated the color field painters “all over” approach to painting. He likes to think he is not reinventing the wheel, but stepping on the shoulders of past masters and transcending the art form to something that is his own. The landscapes are his muse, seeing them and knowing are clear to him. He is the vessel for creating, and with his topographical muse, together they break new ground.
“By altering the landscape with ambiguous shapes and images, it’s like a dream in which you never touch the ground. This is my muse; exploring the landscape more as a conceptual abstract. In my work I invite the viewer into a visual world of color, form and imagination that is completely unexpected.”
“My technique is very controlled despite what the ambiguous appearance may appear to be. Over time I have achieved the ability to alternately release and gain control through my hands, which allows the art to become itself. This has been my goal, when I paint I have a dialog with color. I use tools and solvents to manipulate the paint to make designs, moment to moment creating shapes and forms, mingling layers of paint and color that begins to speak their language.”
His iconoclastic style allows him the freedom to create works of art with atypical materials and concepts that capture free moments telling a never ending story in autobiographical landscapes.
Please visit State of the Art Gallery and view the works on display by Paul Mathisen and other artists, Tuesday thru Friday 11:00 am until 4:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or by appointment.
Paul Mathisen
Mathisenstudio.com
paul@mathisenstudio.com
941-313-4925
February 13, 2012
State of the Arts Gallery
1525 State Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-955-2787
stateofthearts@me.com