Paul Jenks: Painter & Mixed Media Artist

My work seems to flow in two veins. The first vein is painting. I work primarily with Latex and Acrylic on wood or canvas. I have gradually been working from the figurative to the abstract and seek above all else to convey a certain feeling in my work that evades words. That is why I paint. It is a visual language. The pieces are heavily layered yet reveal through gaps and openings previous states or times in the work. This speaks to me of the complexities of our imaginings and perceptions and for myself reflects a lifelong interest in the idea of "presence". I have always been drawn to the idea of "daimones" or guides--angels as it were--presences that defy our logic and more literal/concrete experience and often disturb and haunt our awareness.

The second vein of my work is mixed media. In this vein I work with found objects; wood, metal, junk, etc.... discards if you will and the themes of this work similarly reflect a lifelong attraction to religious and spiritual icons. These works are infused themes of decay and death, hope, life, beauty, sacredness and at times even pop celebrity. I often work on these pieces over a long time as I find new elements to add to articulate the image. Above all else I try to let the work come through me, I try to "get out of the way" as it were and let the images form themselves. My best work is done with this sort of immediacy and intuitive intention.