DAVID FREDERICK RILEY
1 September 6–18, 2022 Jackson Hole Artist Receptions | September 16 & 17 | 1:00–4:00pm DAVID FREDERICK RILEY Bison and Wolves and Bears, Oh My: An Exploration of Expression Jackson Hole | Scottsdale | AltamiraArt.com
2 Solar Flare Oil on canvas | 60 x 60 inches Enquire
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DAVID FREDERICK RILEY
Select three subjects. Explore each in four different styles. These parameters—set by David Frederick Riley for his Fall Arts Festival exhibition—offer the artist the opportunity to push his stylistic exploration even farther than recent forays. Four views of a bear, wolf and bison respectively; four investigations of character through composition.
Stylistic variations include playing with white versus black backgrounds, the latter lending drama, the former inviting atmospheric splatter amid negative space.
When approaching a blank canvas, Riley often picks one aspect as the guiding principle for the painting, such as line or atmosphere. “To a degree, you have to focus on all elements of the composition in every painting,” he says. “But for me, the painting will vary depending on what aspect I’m focusing on. For instance, if I’m thinking about form and structure, the painting will look different than if I’m thinking more about design. It’s fun to hyper-accentuate one of the fundamentals of art to push into a style.”
“Creativity springs from limitations,” he says. “In general, artists create the box that they are going to work within. The mistake you can make is in believing that the box you’ve created exists beyond your art, beyond the purpose of entertaining and inspiring others. You can’t let your ego get too attached to the box you’ve created.”
Other versions might evolve more as line drawings, while a fourth may focus on brushwork and the abstraction that emerges from loose painting.
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Beyond painterly devices, Riley embraces the varying character profiles of his wildlife subjects. “I could do a whole show of bears, from black and brown bears to grizzlies, cubs and big old males. The repetition of painting the animal multiple times allows you to explore different emotional states.” Riley plays with the control inherent in adopting a focus, embracing instead the moments when his paintings defy his grip. “Sometimes, such focus can dissolve the painting to a degree. If you are focusing on mark-making, how do you build the form up with those marks but then how do you also let the painting disintegrate within those marks? It’s a push and pull between control and relinquishing control.” This interplay inspires Riley and also keeps his perspective as a painter in check.
6 A Slight Pause Oil on canvas | 60 x 60 inches Enquire
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8 From Once in the Shadows Oil on canvas | 60 x 48 inches Enquire
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10 Moonlight Oil on canvas | 60 x 48 inches Enquire
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12 Patchwork Pup Oil on canvas | 50 x 40 inches Enquire
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14 Black Bear Blue Oil on canvas | 60 x 60 inches Enquire
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16 Brown Bear on Black Oil on canvas | 60 x 48 inches Enquire
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18 Electric Buffalo Oil on canvas | 48 x 72 inches Enquire
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20 Four Pack Oil on canvas | 48 x 72 inches Enquire
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22 Lazy Sunday Oil on canvas | 48 x 60 inches Enquire
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24 Tex Crocket Oil on canvas | 60 x 48 inches Enquire
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26 The Boss Oil on canvas | 72 x 60 inches Enquire
28 The Little Guy Oil on canvas | 50 x 40 inches Enquire
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172 Center Street | Jackson WY AltamiraArt.com | 307-739-4700
