LARRY BLIZARD
LARRY BLIZARD
ARTIST STATEMENT
Artists are always being asked to give a reason for choosing a particular style or image or color that find their way into a piece. In the case of my drawings, “critters” and their situations become a metaphor for individuals I have dealt with and things I have observed.
Exotic and colorful creatures seldom find their way into my work but rather I prefer, for the most part, humble, indifferently colored birds, squirrels and possums I have come to know after living in a Hudson River village for over 50 years. I do, however, throw in a kangaroo or monkey sometimes. To my backyard friends, I am probably just another “critter” although a weird one, even though they often look to me for food. The settings are most often subtle implications of real life occurrences.
I enjoy the feeling of “losing” myself while drawing; the pencil on paper slowly bringing to life a creature which gives me a small feeling of euphoria.
Pencil and paper and sometimes pen and ink are the tools I work with. Too often in our technological age, artists end up putting distance between themselves and the art work and I feel a connection can be lost in this process. By reducing the distance between the idea and visual manifestation, I hope to reintroduce the human element in my work…the touch of the human hand, in other words.
Like all artists, I enjoy compliments and the occasional sale. However, my greatest thrill comes when the piece I have been working on starts to come together … to “work”, in other words. (Unfortunately, I am most always alone in my studio when that happens)
Exotic and colorful creatures seldom find their way into my work but rather I prefer, for the most part, humble, indifferently colored birds, squirrels and possums I have come to know after living in a Hudson River village for over 50 years. I do, however, throw in a kangaroo or monkey sometimes. To my backyard friends, I am probably just another “critter” although a weird one, even though they often look to me for food. The settings are most often subtle implications of real life occurrences.
I enjoy the feeling of “losing” myself while drawing; the pencil on paper slowly bringing to life a creature which gives me a small feeling of euphoria.
Pencil and paper and sometimes pen and ink are the tools I work with. Too often in our technological age, artists end up putting distance between themselves and the art work and I feel a connection can be lost in this process. By reducing the distance between the idea and visual manifestation, I hope to reintroduce the human element in my work…the touch of the human hand, in other words.
Like all artists, I enjoy compliments and the occasional sale. However, my greatest thrill comes when the piece I have been working on starts to come together … to “work”, in other words. (Unfortunately, I am most always alone in my studio when that happens)
