Artist Statement

Artist Statement – Roman the Painter

For over 25 years, I have engaged deeply with the natural world, first as a nationally recognized rustic furniture maker and now as a painter whose work explores the fleeting beauty of untouched landscapes. My practice is rooted in a profound respect for nature’s inherent structure and an ongoing dialogue with the history of painting. Drawing from my background in design, illustration, and traditional ink and watercolor techniques, I approach oil painting with a distinct methodology that prioritizes both chromatic purity and expressive mark-making.

A key element of my process is my disciplined yet intuitive approach to color. Every hue in my paintings is mixed from a foundational palette of red, yellow, blue, and white. Occasionally, I introduce a second primary—an additional blue or red—to achieve a specific tonal nuance, but I resist the temptation of convenience-based color mixing. While most of my colors are mixed beforehand on the palette, I allow for moments of spontaneity where colors merge on the canvas itself, creating unexpected harmonies and depth. I embrace the occasional chaos—letting subconscious emotion and instinct guide the placement of color and form. In this way, my work maintains a balance between control and freedom, between intentionality and the unpredictability that often mirrors nature itself.

Central to my work is the notion of perception—both immediate and evolving. From a distance, my paintings present landscapes imbued with a recognizable yet heightened sense of place. Upon closer examination, the brushwork fractures into abstraction, revealing the underlying tension between structure and fluidity. This duality invites the viewer to reconsider their own perception of nature, encouraging a deeper engagement with the landscapes they encounter.

Though this body of work represents a relatively new chapter in my artistic career, it is built upon decades of experience across multiple disciplines, including illustration, wildlife painting, and functional design. My time spent in the forests—harvesting deadwood, studying organic forms, and understanding the rhythm of the natural world—has profoundly shaped my artistic philosophy. In an era of rapid environmental depletion, my work serves as both a meditation and a call to appreciation, urging collectors and viewers alike to engage with nature in a more intentional way.