Douglas Martin Schooner
My art journey began at age 6 with my first award, achieved news worthy status by 17 and attained Notre Dame College for Art. I have had art displayed in the Byers Evans Museum, been on radio and television as well as published in books by a multiple award winning author. I am also a winner of Longmont Shock Art 2015.
My artwork has been focused mostly on oil paintings but has recently branched into a new mixed media technique/style that brings my art forward into a future of undiscovered potential.
Since Summer 2012, I have been working on a piece of works titled, "54 Lighthouses" in acrylic. The last painting in my current works, "54 Lighthouses" will display this new and exciting vision, pushing outside the boundaries of typical wall art that has been the norm for hundreds of years.
Updated timeline is Summer, 2016.
I view art as a journey within a circle, the path of which is mine to choose. Often people look at a piece of famous art and state, "My child could do better with crayons!". That is actually somewhat correct. In my vision, the journey of artistic self discovery begins and ends as it started. It's the life expressions and experience between alpha and omega that make the same strokes and same appeal as a child's random scribbles become, through a Master, a creation with purpose and with absolute intent. As my circle becomes more apparent, my works have become more focused and my art has grown from random thoughts and images to items specific to my journey.
My works pull from every moment spent between myself and the paint. It is a dance similar to the Tai Chi practice of "push hands". Simple, yet years to master.
I often approach my canvas as if it were a small kitten. I know what I want. I want a big squishy hug from the kitten but the kitten isn't going to co-operate unless I approach it correctly. I am still trying to perfect that approach when each painting brings its own personality out as the paint meets the surface. I come to the canvas with a topic and the paint takes me where it needs to go. Sometimes it needs a map, sometimes it just knows the way home like a faithful dog taking his tired master back for warmth and comfort.
Each painting is a child of mine. None are perfect and each one has a character and voice their own. Each one will fight me if I try too hard or become distant if I don't give it the attention it needs. Some need to be put down…I mean, "rehabilitated". I try to make them speak in my words but often they only mumble half the story unless I let them in on the story.
My subject matter has often flip flopped from nature, abstract and surreal and has been sporadic. The subject matter has not been as important as I've spiraled through my artists journey. It has been my dance with the paint itself and learning how she moves that has been my focus. To achieve that sweet spot of zen between myself and the paint where we complete each other and the visual appeal to the viewer forces them to feel. Feel anything. Just feel SOMETHING.
If I have been able to inspire even a small fracture of communication and feeling, I have successfully become a ghost for your future self. Now we can dance forever.
