Florida-based artist Kevin Grass blends photorealism and Flemish painting techniques in his allegorical paintings. The artist, who is particularly inspired by Richard Estes and Jan Van Eyck, uses photographic references and a contemporary color palette to tell his stories through a number of symbols that reveal typically moral or political narratives.
Kevin Grass in his studio.
“My initial figurative works after graduate school were religious in nature, but when I found that the works were difficult to show and sell, I gradually moved into contemporary social themes,” Grass explains. “The themes in these paintings were dark in nature, which made them interesting to paint but still hard to show and sell. I found that, by interjecting humor into my work, it was easier to get people interested in the paintings and easier to sell them. Some people have described my work as a darker version of Norman Rockwell.”
Grass is recognized for portraying contemporary life in his paintings, where the subjects are in modern clothing and often are in tune with the current technology. He adds, “Each piece is carefully crafted to evoke emotions in the viewer, transforming the acrylic painting into a majestic mirror that reflects a tarnished reality. I want to give contemporary viewers a new perspective on their world and I want future generations to see what it is like to live in turn-of-the-century America.”
Mother and Child, acrylic on panel, 36 x 24". This painting received Second Prize in International Artist magazine’s recent People & Figures challenge.
One of Grass’ newest paintings, titled Mother and Child, comments on one of today’s societal norms: a child continuing to live with their parent into adulthood. The man in the work is seen clutching to his mother, as he would have done as a little boy. “Young adults today choose to live with their parents longer than in previous generations because they are not ready to take on the responsibilities of adulthood,” Grass says. “Middle-aged parents sometimes find that emotional and financial support for these children exacerbates the problem rather than paving the way to a solution.”
In another work, Expedition, he was inspired by his son Nicholas, pictured second from the left in the painting, who spent a lot of his time outdoors in the swamplands near their home. “There are two basic themes in this painting. The first is that children today spend too much time indoors on their devices. Some of the problems with childhood obesity and inadequate critical thinking skills could be resolved if children spent more time playing outdoors and interacting with their natural surroundings,” he says. “The second is that teenagers can and should serve as positive role models and mentors for younger children.”
Expedition, acrylic on panel, 30 x 40"
Grass received his undergraduate degree in drawing and painting from Washington University and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. Since 1997, he has been a teacher at St. Petersburg College. —
Kevin Grass
(727) 942-9020
fineartfan@hotmail.com
www.kevingrass.art
Powered by Froala Editor
