Have you ever wondered how an artist really works? Here's your chance to see how Cody DeLong creates his luminous and award-winning landscapes. Conceptual thumbnail sketches will be on display, alongside the studio paintings which sprang from them. Select figure drawing studies will be featured, as well as some plein air paintings.
Opening reception of Cody's show, The Art of Discovery, will take place at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery on Saturday, March 29, from 6 - 9 p.m. The show runs through May 1.
"I wanted this show to be a journey through the creative process. When students or collectors visit my studio, they seem fascinated with my preparatory sketches. They often hold them up next to the paintings, gaining insight into the underlying design of my work. I've always viewed drawing as an essential skill for any self-respecting representational painter, so it seems very natural to include them in the show."
A life-long student of painting, Cody challenges himself to use all the tools of expression afforded by his oil paints -- color, values, drawing, design, surface texture, brushwork and edges. That dedication is evident in his work which compels you over for a closer look. His surface treatments illustrate what artists mean when they talk about 'paint quality'.
"Realism is the way I've chosen to express my creativity. It isn't duplication, but the result of keen observation, feeling, imagination and solid painting skills. I'm attempting to weld together all this and more in my work. The paintings I enjoy the most are the ones where you can see the artist began with a strong idea and willfully executed it with sensitivity."
"Today's collectors are more discerning than ever. They know when a painting is askew, and they are less likely to buy the old 'That's just my style' alibi. I think the creative process begins deep within the artist, sometimes from mysterious origins, and there is a struggle to bring it to the surface. It's ok to make mistakes along the way, but it's not ok to accept them as 'good enough' without continually striving for more."
Visit Cody's webiste for more details. www.codydelong.com
For Paintings, Prints, Classes and Events, go to.... www.codydelong.com
