Vinyl Artist Poll: Kevin Peterson

[Today we bring you the  3rd of 10 artists  we're profiling  as part of our Vinyl Artist Poll project, which started this Monday.   After all ten artists have been profiled, we'll open the poll up for voting.  This is strictly to gauge peoples tastes and quite honestly for fun.  For more info, please see the introductory post.]

Kevin Peterson
www.kevinpetersonart.com

Born in San Diego in 1980, like all artists Kevin was influenced by his surroundings. The intricate finishing of Spanish architecture, lush California agriculture, Saturday morning cartoons, or eccentric family members, attention to detail, and a healthy cynical attitude has always fueled his work. Early on he amused himself by drawing from situations, positive or negative, to either diffuse or examine. Naturally curious and having a thirst for the abnormal, he began to read Surrealist literature and visit museums. Kevin related to the ideas of revolt through art preached by the Surrealists, and understood that most art movements were rebellions, reactions to social, political and religious ideologies. Along with these ideals, he was very much attracted to the ritualistic and therapeutic side of creativity. After graduating from the Laguna College of Art and Design with a BFA in illustration he began to devote all of his time to oil painting.

“Working in illustration, I realized early on that it forces you to become a problem-solver. After countless awkward positions and disappointments, I began to realize that I had to relax and go with the flow of things to make them work. I hated using sketches and reference. I felt that they ruined the spontaneity of a  painting, and provided a crutch that would be detrimental to my process of free association. I guess I kind of felt that it took away from the mystery and importance of my memories and the basic function of painting from my head. I feel that it is very important to exercise the basic function of memory and keep it sharp. The more I paint, the more my focus lies in the process itself and the ripening of an idea through happy accidents and subconscious urges. I never know what a piece will look like until it is completed, which is the most exciting part of painting to me. More importantly, I believe that my job as an artist is to act like an antenna that receives and negates information and provide commentary on my surroundings in my own unique voice.”

[source: official bio]

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