Innovative Art Work of Emerging Artist is Recognized in Art Publication

Dec. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- The work of Veazie Maine local emerging artist Thomas R Griffith was recognized in the magazine the Creative Quarterly. The Creative Quarterly is an art magazine published out of New York , NY and was recently recognized for the third straight year by the Belvedere Festival as one of the top 100 visual magazines world wide. http://blog.cqjournal.com/2012/11/creative-quarterly-named-one-of-top-100.html http://www.cqjournal.com

Thomas resides in Veazie Maine. He works with gouache, acrylic, graphite and virtual 3D, in a style that ranges from abstract expressionism to illustrative, all the while experimenting with blending these styles together.  

The work that was selected as one of the winners of the entries to the Fall 28 issue of Creative Quarterly is titled “In Waiting 3-3-12 5”. This image was created by importing hand painted images into the Second Life virtual world. There Thomas built 3D models and overlaid the painted images on them. This creates a 3D piece of art that can explored by those who are logged into Second Life. Virtual created art work is a unique new method to create art and for artists from across the world to collaborate. www.secondlife.com

The particular virtual 3D piece that the image is from can still be explored and seen in the second life virtual world. A link to find your way to the virtual location can be found on Thomas’s website www.thomasrgriffith.com A video created of the 3D installation created by Thomas can be found on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY0i_Qfdyew&feature=share&list=PLWXIFZVlG6B9E5-n1ury7NhOyLsDqmvA9 This video takes the viewer on a tour of the installation as it tells a pictorial story accompanied by Piano Music played by Thomas.



Artist Biography

My art education has been varied. The true bulk of my skills, however, come from my own experimentation. Standard schooling certainly had its part in my growth as an artist, but being of a naturally strong independent mind, and somewhat contentious personality, I generally focused on walking my own path.

Of course my life was not only art. I grew up in the country side and I spent much time wandering the woods streams and railway tracks. Nature has had a huge effect on me. I would dare say that all the little things I learned from my time in the woods has contributed more to my art than any teacher or book ever could.

I attended college at Genesee Community College in Batavia New York. I earned a degree in Advertising and Commercial art. I also interned at a family owned sign shop.

After college I worked as a graphic artist for 10 plus years with a 3 year break as an infantryman in the US Army. I started my graphics career in a large screen printing company as a board artist and most all of the work was done by hand. I shortly mastered computer graphics by staying late and studying and tinkering on Macs in the department next to me. Over the years I have become extremely knowledgeable with digital art media.

Working through the years with my OCD, Dyslexia and PTSD has had a profound effect on my life and my art. I feel a certain amount of healing from knowing that if something in my work can help someone feel a connection and have some of their feelings of isolation relieved, then I feel I have done my part no matter how small it maybe.

Artist Statement

Much of my work has been done in a two dimensional format on paper with gouache, acrylic, graphite or some mix of two. This is where my foundation has come from and I always return to it. I enjoy the challenge of controlling the feeling of depth within the confines of a two dimensional format. A sketch book has long been a friend by my side for me to explore and experiment with the images in my mind and the ones in the world around me.

I also do much with three dimensional sculpture made with panels that I have painted. This has challenges that I enjoy as well, while giving me more latitude of freedom. Along with this I work in a  digital virtual 3 dimensional format in the virtual world of Second Life. In the computer generated world many things become possible for me to create that would otherwise be impossible. Movement, sound, music, are all things that can be controlled virtually.

When I work three dimensionally, I strive to create something that is immersive for the audience, making them feel they have entered one of my paintings. I believe that this has been a natural progression for me, because one of the things I strive for on paper is to provide an immersive experience. three dimensional mediums break the confines of the flat paper. I have found though that my years of experience with working on paper has allowed me to find ways to experiment with the depth in three dimensional works in unique ways.

My style ranges from abstract expressionism to illustrative. Over time, as I have experimented with these styles, I have found a fascination with how they can blend together while at the same time keeping a uniformity that is uniquely me. I feel this has been a great way to be versatile without being scattered. When the subject matter requires more realism I can go there and when it requires more abstraction, I can be comfortable there as well. Often I find the blending of the two can have a nice impact that speaks to multiple levels. When someone sees my work in any medium or style, I want it to be very clear that they all come from the same artist.

I enjoy creating art with content that provokes thought and emotions. This is my biggest driver to create art, because for me art is about the connection between the artist and the viewer. Through art we are able to not only express words, thoughts, and feelings, but often many things that may seem impossible to describe. I have frequently had someone who views my work share with me that my art has affected them the way I intended. I will admit that I am not always sure how it works out this way. I suppose that bit of mystery is one of the things that holds my interest in the arts as a whole.