Artist of the Month July 2014

Brett Polonsky

Bellevue, Washington

I was born in Southern California in “The Valley”. I moved to the Seattle area for college and never left. I studied graphic design earning a degree in Visual Communication. I’ve been a professional designer, a college instructor, a seminar speaker, and a published author. I currently paint from a small studio in my home near Seattle.

How and when did you start creating art?

I’ve always been an artist. As a kid I was the guy in the back of the room sketching on every blank inch of paper I could get a hold of. I’ve never really stopped.

What media and genres do you work in?

I typically work with acrylics in mixed media pieces on canvas. Right now I’m loving the texture that toilet paper creates on the canvas. I also often use surgical gauze, torn paper, photocopies and stenciled letters.

Who or what are your influences?

My early influences were my father and grandfather, both artists and very creative. I think there is always a bit of each of them in everything I do. I am also fascinated by color and texture. Going out and experiencing life everyday is an influence. I’ll often catch something out of the corner of my eye… a color, a pattern, a texture… those are the images that find their way into many of the pieces I create today.

What was your inspiration for Work, Not Play?

I recently came across an old yellowed book at a used bookstore. The book is called A Poor Wise Man. My current series, of the same title, uses pages from this book as part of my collage process. For Work, Not Play I incorporated the pages, surrounding them with deep red colors and layered stenciled letters, and my usual collection of mixed media – toilet paper and surgical gauze. The piece was inspired by words on the particular pages, mixed and contrasted with the street/urban feel of the lettering. I was particularly inspired by the representation of old in the book pages, and new in the colors and lettering

Describe your creative process?

I think of my process in three acts, or phases. In the first act I have a little conversation with the blank canvas about the story that we’re going to tell together. I have a general idea of a color palette, and I begin to add in the base layers and textures to create the backstory of the painting. Act Two is a process of deeper character development and additional layering. The painting starts to tell its story in more detail. During this phase I also try to find one or two ways to shock the story. I might add something completely unexpected, a new color, texture or pattern. I’m looking for something that connects with me at that moment, and drives me to the third and final act of the painting. The last act is a search for moments of perfection on the canvas. Although I want the painting to have perfect moments, they generally happen instinctively. A painting is finished when just enough of the story has been revealed to create interest. I don’t want to tell the whole story. Ambiguity invites viewers to complete the story for themselves and when that happens I consider it a success. I’m happy with that.

What are you working on currently?

I’m working on a series called A Poor Wise Man using torn pages from a book with that same title. I’ve done four pieces so far, and I have a few more in mind for this series.

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

I want to continue to evolve as an artist. I don’t want to be boring, or repeat the same things. I like to experiment. That’s a long term and ongoing goal for sure. I’d also like to open a gallery. I even have a name picked out, Charles David Gallery named for my father and my grandfather. In the near term, I’m doing what I can to gain visibility through self-promotion of my work. I’ve shown my work locally, and would like to continue that, and also establish gallery representation.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

My work can be viewed at my web site: www.brettpolonsky.com .

I am looking for gallery representation, but current works can be purchased through my online gallery here: http://www.saatchiart.com/account/profile/496515  

I also recently completed a video promo which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPOiNYScmdE