About

sarkowsky-3-17-11-104Art is the foundation of my life. I am a painter, a collector, a seeker of vivid expressions of humanity. I see curiosity as an impetus to go deeper creatively, to explore ideas and investigate meaning. Whether actively engaged in fine art as a professional passion or simply experiencing daily life as a maker, I’m inspired by the promise of creative freedom and fascinated by the process of surrender necessary to access that potential.

The dynamic tensions in life are a recurring theme in my work. The juxtaposing forces of vulnerability and strength, fragility and toughness, tenderness and rage are rich with untapped possibilities for insights into the human narrative. Rather than attempting to impose order by isolating these potent phenomena, I am inclined to immerse myself in the myriad ways they play together.

My artistic philosophy is to let stories unfold, rather than to focus on generating any particular pre-conceived output, which requires me to let intuition and spontaneity dominate as I look to balance exacting line work and the unpredictable flow of ink. This process of artistic emancipation unleashes fantastic promise and, as a result, my work is more expressive then representational. I revel in the alchemy of material, color, and hand. There is a sense of innocence and virtue in their relationships that is tempered and made real by imperfection in ways that parallel our lives from birth to death. It is from this vision that the layering and textures in my work reflect the accumulation of memories, nostalgia, and experiences, both good and bad, which give substance to life.

Just as we are shaped by our environment as well as by our intra and interpersonal relationships and characteristics, the natural world also often influences my work. From organic forms to qualities of color, nature seems at once quirky and intentional. The patterns of behavior and visual arrays it contains can yield endlessly beautiful results when they are viewed free of the constraints imposed by a mechanistic and heavily choreographed approach. While I may research an idea or concept deeply, such information acts as a jumping off point rather than a strict directive. The joy of informed but liberated exploration is a huge factor in my creative process.

In sharing my art, my intention and hope is that you will find something that deeply resonates for you viscerally, personally – an enduring inspiration and joy.

See also: Resume/CV | Commissions