“Truth comes from the observation of Nature.” - Zen Buddhism

As a contemporary realist, I am drawn to the everyday visual stimuli of my environment, from the intricate texture of a fallen leaf or the subtle colors within a simple creek stone to the timeworn surface patterns in man-made brick, stone or wooden structures. My responsibility as a socially and politically conscious artist is to interpret those stimuli in not just representational creations, but rather as a personal statement about man’s affect on his environment and the constant struggle by nature to survive in the ever-encroaching world of civilized society.

My painted compositions based on the above premise have been compared to the Japanese aesthetic principle of “Wabi-Sabi”. “Wabi-Sabi”, in very general terms, is the aesthetic balancing of opposites - old and new, rough and smooth, natural and man-made. I begin most of my work by using a simple round form, usually that of the millstone, once so prevalent in our country, or a circular rusted metal disk. Centering the circular form inside its opposite shape, the square, both geometric shapes in turn become the formal stage for interpretations of that continuous struggle between man and nature; that tenuous balance between destruction and life. Most often the composition will start with a conscious arrangement of natural items such as sticks, leaves or stones placed in front of or on the millstone or metal disk. Impaling the circular shape or the natural items with rusted nails; wrapping them either in constrictive strips of rusted metal, barbed wire, rope or chains; or simply altering the forms with imaginary tools allows me to express my concern for man’s overzealous use and abuse of nature and the continual alteration of our environment.

Even my approach to my smaller, more traditional still life compositions that involve subject matter from nature still have a subtle message of concern for our environment. Items from nature such as broken branches or leaves, creek stones or seashells, feathers or nests are arranged in limited depth of field compositions that create a sense of tension and intimacy with the viewer.

I hope that through my acrylic paintings I create a heightened awareness, whether it is political, social or spiritual, of just how delicate a balance there is between man and nature. I am constantly bombarded with visual images that lend themselves to this struggle and I will continue to find new textural surfaces and altered natural forms to become new players on my painted stage. Unfortunately for nature, those possiblities seem endless.

Brad Stroman