mbehr6@yahoo.com

I’m a Neo-Surreal Expressionist combining original photography with expressionistic paint.  The photo is applied by transferring it to stretched canvas using acrylic gel medium.  I use a copy of a print, put it face down into gel medium, when the gel dries I scrub the paper away and the toner from the copy is embedded in the paint.  I’m infatuated with the way different materials work to achieve depth and movement, some of which include; acrylic paint, (metallic and opaque) loose powdered pigments, toner, glitter, graphite powder, sponified wax, white pre-coat treated rice paper, spray-paint, resin, watercolor crayons, oil pastels, acrylic mediums, and pencil and markers. In this body of work the juxtaposed photography with the dream-like atmosphere evoke an emotional response on a subconscious level by obscuring the viewers associations with reality and dreams. To me a great piece, evolves, is never overworked, has depth and movement and uses color to appeal to the viewer on an emotion level.  When I start a painting, often the painting will dictate to me what it will be, accident combined with aesthetic intuition. The themes that I tend to explore are religion, the passing of time, death, nature, (in a metaphysical rather than literal sense) sexuality, beauty, temptation, and fear. A few of my influences include Dali, Manray, Chagall, Picasso, Max Beckman, Avedon, Helmet Newton and Giacometti.