Jack Atkinson
Simplicity, Energy, Beauty
“These are the defining words for all of my life’s work.
Today, I very much abide by a test of “Simplicity” and “Beauty”, but my preeminent goal is always for “Energy” to be evident. I want all of my work to have emotional energy – that same energy that surrounds art during the creative act. 99% of my work is created in brush an ink, in real time, ie: from life, only a very few are drawn from photographs.” – Artist Jack Atkinson
Jack starts all of his art as ink and brush paintings – created freehand in ink and brush and painting from life. Simply put, his drawings are like snap-shots, but using the hand, the eye and the unforgiving medium of ink and brush on paper to capture the decisive moment. Because life is in constant motion, many of his brush paintings are very fast, created within seconds and the people he sketches are not always aware they have been painted, working like paparazzi: at social situations; in public places; at events; on public transportation; etc. He captures the subjects which happen to be in front of him – a journalistic approach, as opposed to his art being conceptualizations or composed set-ups.
(Source: all photos, art and text supplied by the artist.)
