Today we’d like to introduce you to John Musgrove.
John, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
While the elements of the urban landscape are central to my cityscape paintings, light and shadow are their unifying forces. Whether it’s the crispness of a clear blue day, the afterglow of dusk or the diffusion of a foggy morning, it is the quality of light which enlivens the painting. Each evokes its own emotional response and it is that feeling I hope to capture.
I aim to create a contemplative atmosphere in my work and to infuse each painting with a quiet vitality that speaks to the sensation of perception itself—to celebrate the singular moment.
My tile paintings grew out of my use of the grid method for transferring images onto the canvas. Taken as separate elements, each tile represents the singular moment. Taken together, each painting illustrates that our perceptions are subject to change from one moment to the next.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I make paintings that are directly inspired by my everyday environment. Somebody described my work as having “a quotidian beauty.” I had to look-up “quotidian” but then it seemed to fit. I love when the ordinary elements of our environment come together to create an extraordinary composition. I spend an inordinate amount of time seeking out these “moments,” often getting up at the crack of dawn to cruise the city hoping to happen upon one.
Once I’ve decided on a composition, I take a photo to capture it. I then drop a grid on top of the composition in Photoshop. Then I cut the photo into the squares defined by the grid. I paint each “tile” (actually an 8” square of really nice birch plywood) separately, wiping off the palette between each tile. Once finished with all the individual tiles, I assemble them into the completed painting.
Inevitably, the colors from tile to tile do not match. Nor do the telephone lines or the rooftops. Cars are fractured. Clouds are broken. The whole is different than the sum of its parts.
I’d like the viewer to recognize that perception is elusive and often changes from moment to moment—but that’s up to them.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
Success to me is the ability to create work that expresses my particular point of view. I am incredibly fortunate to be able to follow my inspirations and to have others find beauty and value in my paintings.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can always see my work at www.musgrovepainting.com. My Instagram feed is jrmuskie, which includes my paintings and other images from my life. I am represented by the Zia Gallery in Winnetka, IL and the Studio Gallery in San Francisco. My Facebook painting page is www.facebook.com/musgrovepainting.
Contact Info:
- Address: 439 Moraga St.
San Francisco, CA 94122 - Website: www.musgrovepainting.com
- Phone: 4153085749
- Email: john@musgrovepainting.com
- Instagram: jrmuskie
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/musgrovepainting
Image Credit:
John Musgrove
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