Artist profile of Ken O'Toole

As an abstract expressionist, the aspects I strive for in any of the images I create are truth, beauty and goodness. Whatever deeper philosophical meaning can be gleaned after realizing those tasks are welcome, but not my main focus. The impact and quality of the image as well as its enduring nature are the primary requirements I place upon myself, and any work I create.

All art is language. As far back as the cave dwellers who used painting prior to forming a verbal language, man has told of his struggle to survive and his upward reach to God through art. As a Christian, I have come to realize that unlike an illustrator who tells a story discernable with the eye, my gifting is an extension of my prayer language that presents itself in non-representational elements that must be discerned with the spirit.

I give all my creations names for the following reasons. First as I mentioned, this is a personal language and to share my gifts as I am meant to do, they need a bit of translation. Secondly, I believe it is important to bring under control the raw emotional energy required to complete these paintings, by naming said emotion. This validates mere expression, elevating it not only to a fine art form, but also to a level of a true curative as well. Most importantly, I believe that artists are ordained as teachers and guides for our culture. I disagree with the arrogant notion that this should be done silently, or that viewers should "get it on their own”. Instead I use it as an opportunity to give glory to my Creator and to point viewers to Him.

Starting with photography and then progressing to digital photography and computer graphics I was able to hone my composition skills. The body of work which resulted was quite good. However, other than the abstract expressionistic paintings I created using PhotoShop most of the pieces did not satisfy my desire to create something uniquely mine.

Taking to the canvas to create raw material for computer manipulation and also to experience the physical reactions of varying mediums and colors, I began to attack the supports, first with palette knifes, then with tubes and eventually with whole cans of paint. I poured, dripped and slung color with brushes, stirring paddles and even tree branches. The results, happily, were what could only come from my meditations, movements and moods. The images crashed upon the canvas like waves on a secluded beach. Some were heavy with paint and had little negative space. Then the tide receded and the results were mostly small spatters of bright color.

Like the abstract expressionists of the 50's and 60's, I am exploring the expanding universe of the ever expanding heart of God in these images. I see windows to distant galaxies and cluttered nebulae within the borders of these confined surfaces where a single drop of paint may represent yet another habitable planet in the cosmic landscape. I am happy to use as large a canvas as I can acquire to explore more and more of these vast regions of space. However, I can also accomplish much the same with smaller frames because I believe, as both the current Dalai Lama and William Blake suggested, you can find the universe in a single atom. We are, after all, the creator children of The Creator God; even if we are, by our own hand, somewhat broken.

It is also true that some of these images are actually the landscapes of emotions or the cosmos within a single thought. I name each piece in accordance with the emotion, meditation, or idea that they most bring to mind. Beyond that you should imagine what you will and visit there often.

I employ all the above mentioned processes to bring medium to support. I also combine these various application methods with dry brush or the drawing of lines with pen and ink to give additional depth or finish to a painting.