My paintings and drawings combine my subconscious, or spirit, along with a more deliberate thought out mark making. In a childlike manner, my scribbles and lines are made. In a more conscious manner, representational drawings are made, showing both man made and forms of nature. The objects and forms in my work are a combination of both abstract and representational depictions with an abstract expressionistic quality. My art is  a manifestation of a life long observation of the world around me filtered through my emotions. I believe the viewer should interpret my work any way they like. What it means to me may be different for them. To me this is the intrigue of abstract art.

Most of my paintings and collage/drawings start with an ivory colored background, using either paper or a painted canvas. I then layer on drawings over a period of time using crayons, graphite pencil, colored pencils, oil and acrylic paint along with pasted on paper cut outs. This creates a palimpsest surface, acting like a visual diary of thoughts over a period of time.

I am a self taught photographer/printer learning from the books and teaching methods of Ansel Adams in the late 1970's. I built my own darkroom in 1983 and proceeded to experiment and learn my own method of developing film and printing in black and white. I used the Ilford guidelines for printing paper in my development procedures in fixing, toning and washing to their specifications. I used all the Kodak archival methods of developing film, using mainly Kodak Tri X and Plus X film. in the 6cmx9cm format. My camera was a Pentax 6X9. I closed and dismantled my darkroom in 2004 afetr developing over 2,000 rolls of film and making black and white many prints.

All of my work is original, signed and dated. Most of my photos are mounted and matted with archival conservation board.

John McLaughlin

drawinghermit@yahoo.com

It's SPRING! To celebrate, all student, faculty, staff, and friends of Washington Adventist University are invited to another evening of art, food, and conversation at our second Honors Progam art exhibition opening of the year. See the attached PDF, and share news of the event with anyone you feel would enjoy the experience.

John McLaughlin Paintings and Drawings in the Department of English

Washington Adventist University

March 23 - May 3, 2010

Opening Reception: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m (refreshments served)

The work of John McLaughlin (b. 1954) explores the relationship between humans and their environment. Child-like scribbles are combined with highly finished drawing and collage elements to create abstract works that still retain references to natural and man-made objects. McLaughlin is an intuitive artist, allowing his pieces to develop organically in both form and meaning, and his works are a source of constant discovery for both him and the viewer. While entirely self-taught, McLaughlin has affinity with modern artists such as Cy Twombly and Richard Tuttle. He displays a refinement of form, texture, and personal vision that is belied by the gestural freedom and playfulness immediately evident in his pieces.

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js"></script>