I am born in 1982

Website: Elefantii cand dorm
Contact email: vutescu_eugen@yahoo.com

While an undergraduate at the University of California at Berkeley from 1968 to 1972 I was planning on moving to an artist community along the coast after graduation and paint and write. Somehow, as these things happen, these plans fell by the wayside and instead, I joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Thailand, returned to get my doctorate in psychology, got married, had one son and spent twenty years working as a psychologist in universities and in the prison system in Florida. All this time I kept a trunk full of sketch books and manuscripts and nearing retirement, I converted our guest house into a studio. When I retired four years ago, I took up my brushes seriously and have painted mostly images of monks and angels and flowers. I am still experimenting and have completed some abstract works as well as doing some photography. I am mainly painting the images that arise from my own personal mythology and as such, most of my paintings lie somewhere between the presence and the absence of an identifiable image. My photographs are more traditional. My work can also be seen at the websites: absolutearts.com and ArtistsRegistry.com

Website: Obert Fittje
Contact email: ohfittje@netzero.com

One particular Scottish artist who fits this mold and is on constant exhibition at Artery Gallery, is renowned professional artist and much publicized Derek Collins. Derek creates stunning works of abstract art by pouring carefully selected resins, powders, pigments, liquids and lacquers on to canvas and then setting it on fire!

Derek explains, �Setting fire to various materials gives a crisp, glossy look and that’s where I got the original idea for creating my art. When all the paint has dried, the resin is then applied and this has another effect on the paint. It gives the art a great look and feel to it.�

His art is an extension of the specialist paint effects he has been applying for many years. He says, �I love the way other paints and lacquers affect one another, if one paint is not compatible the other paint does not want to touch it so it moves away or breaks the weaker paint and forms another effect. When you then add the thinners of different paints, another reaction takes place, too much thinner will make it flow out but set it alight and it will evaporate the thinners and seal off the paints.�

As well as these paints and lacquers, Derek has used all kinds of extra materials in his art, from sand and shards of glass to leaves and moss. Customers can even provide specific stones, gems and personal photographs that can be incorporated into the artwork. Recently he was approached by a woman who had taken a liking to his flaming art, and asked him to incorporate her mother�s ashes into a painting. Being an incredibly sensitive matter, it�s something Derek took on with great pride and care. He says �Quite often people are left with loved ones ashes and are not quite sure what to do with them. Using the ashes in a painting is a great way to commemorate a life, and creates something close and personal that can be kept in the home and more importantly in the family for years and years to come.�

Artery Gallery has been a major supporter of contemporary Scottish artists and continues to boost artist profiles, such as that of Derek Collins.

Log on to Artery Gallery�s website www.arteryuk.com to view more work by Derek Collins.

Website: arteryuk
Contact email: crieff@arteryuk.com