Artist of the Month

March 2008

Nathaniel Hester

Hurdle Mills, NC

Nathaniel Hester’s (b. 1976; Durham, NC) paintings, prints, and animations investigate the incongruous harmonies of the American landscape by featuring dynamic shapes, jeweled surfaces, rich tones, and a luminous palette. His work has been exhibited and collected nationwide. He resides on a ninth generation family tobacco farm with his wife, their dog, cats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and honeybees.

TAL: How and when did you start creating art?

NH : I was living in Paris and was bored with the standard fare of postmodern cynicism in galleries. I resolved to make the work that I wanted to see on display.

TAL: What media and genres do you work in?

NH : Oil painting on canvas. Secondarily, printmaking – intaglio etchings, mezzotints, woodblocks. Alternatively, 16mm stop-motion, charcoal animation.

TAL: Who or what are your influences?

NH : Eugene Delacroix; Willem DeKooning; Giotto; Regional Craft Traditions (Quilt Making and Ceramics, Pottery)

TAL: What was your inspiration for ""?

NH : The “Ship of Fools” paintings were inspired by the historical writings on the Civil War by the late Shelby Foote. The pictures attempt to capture the surprising cruelty and exhilarating beauty of nineteenth century maritime warfare replete with abstract references to iron clad hulls, depth charges, submarines, and torpedoes.

TAL: Describe your creative process.

NH : I release paint, somewhat lawlessly, and then gather the elements which are the most appealing. Once a relatively harmonious and taut design is hewn out of the muck, I apply extensive successive layerings of opaque scumbles and translucent glazes.

TAL: What are you working on currently?

NH : A suite of one hundred paintings entitled “Garden of Delights: A History of the NASA Space Program.”

TAL: What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

NH : To produce more and more work of higher and higher quality.

TAL: Where can people view/purchase your work?

NH : On my website: www.nathanielhester.com