Artist Studio

My first Self-Portrait... I was born in Wooster, Ohio and grew up on Long Island, New York. With a degree in Advertising Art and Design, I began working as an Art Director, Illustrator and Calligrapher for a variety of ad agencies and design studios in NYC. In 1989, I moved to Orlando, Florida. I opened my own advertising agency and continued to exercise my creative talents as an artist, photographer, poet and musician. In 1997, I began devoting my time to exploring self expression through my love of painting. The rhythms and flow of energy graphically expressed with the poetic lines of calligraphy became my foundation. My choice to paint on Birch wood, as opposed to canvas or paper, provided this new found creative energy to grow in uncharted territory. The wood's grain reveals similar rhythms and flow of energy. And it's relationship with my painting has grown deeper and deeper.

Influenced by Charles DeMuth's Figure Five in Gold My first series of work was created in what the early surrealists called automatism. That is, beginning a work without any preconceived notion and letting the hand paint freely what the intuition feels. These paintings revealed the intangible energy, the inner movement and complexities of the subject. Paintings, strong with emotion and state of being. My approach has evolved. I now begin each painting by not only relying on the strength of my intuition, but by studying the nature of the wood’s grain. It speaks to me, and together, the painting is conceived. I'm currently working on NEW Mixed-media, dimensional artworks, combining wood, metal and glass!!

New Artwork Combines Wood, Metal and Glass!! I combine a variety of mediums that may include acrylics, wood stains, metallic paints and engraving. Regardless, each work of art maintains its intrinsic appeal, "Transparency"... allowing the viewer to see, hear, feel beneath the surface. Bonding with the subject with increasing intensity. A few of the dominate influences on me, as an artist, are Kandinsky, Miro, Pollack, Dali and Calder. Fashion design, architecture and the human form are but a few of the subjects that will find their place as I continue to experiment in color, texture, imagery and form. Erte, Versace, Thierry Mugler and Patrick Nagel are artists that mirror my own sense of style... certainly reflected in my work. If you have any questions,you can reach me at 786.375.7350 or Email: KurtMerkel@comcast.net