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Review us Give us feedback "I'm not trying to piant the warmth of the sun, or the smell of the flowers. I [enjoy] exploring visual ideas ... utilizing shape, value, edges, and color."
An interview with Ron Hicks
How do you feel about being classified stylistically as a specific type of artist, or are you?
What artist, movement, or historic time period has had the greatest influence on your art?
What artist, movement, or historic time period has had the greatest influence on your art?
It’s funny you should ask these questions, since I just had this conversation not too long ago. I have had people compare my work to that of Rembrandt, Daumier, Monet, Bonnard, and Sargent; although, of course, the individual painting styles of these masters are all very different (go figure). I’m not implying, of course, that I am anywhere close to mastering the accomplishments of such artists. However, there are always going to be people who want to place you in a category or style -- fit you in a box, so to speak. For example, if someone were to say to me, “You are an Impressionist,” I’d probably say, “I could be, if you define Impressionism as painting the ‘essence’ and interpreting what you see visually while laying brushstrokes on a canvas. But maybe not so much if you are comparing my work to what some of the first Impressionist painters were going after. I’m not trying to paint the warmth of sun, or the smell of flowers, or how the wind blows. That’s not the intent in my work. I like to think of myself instead as an artist who enjoys exploring visual ideas by utilizing shape, value, edges, and color.
That being said, I’d reply that my work has been influenced in one way or another by a number of artists and stylistic approaches, especially those of the old masters. Two of my favorite periods are Impressionism and Romanticism -- Impressionism because of how artists broke away from traditional approaches to painting and Romanticism for its emphasis on strong emotive and aesthetic experience. My list of influences could go on and on. After all, it’s hard not to be influenced by other artists, especially if one travels, attends art school, visits museums, etc. Inside our hearts and minds, we develop things we appreciate or view as relevant to our cause. I believe that these things become part of what makes each artist’s search or discovery unique. I think we’re safe as long as we don’t try to “copy” or live someone else’s vision, but instead use this information to help form our own personal statements, to find the direction of our own heart’s journey. So, being classified as a specific type of artist doesn’t bother me. I just think it’s hard to place me and my work in any category. Maybe that’s just specific to me.