Darrell Roberts

Artist Information

Born: 1972, Ottumwa, Iowa
Currently Resides: Chicago, Illinois

Contact Information:
darrellkr (at) gmail (dot) com
Chicago Artists Resource
re-title.com
www (dot) darrell (dash) roberts (dot) com

Medium(s) Worked In:
Painting

Available for Commission: Yes

HPAC Exhibitions

2007, Luscious
2006, Material Science
2005, Self Portrait Series from 2004
2003 , Teaching Artist Selected Works

Other Exhibitions

Thomas McCormick Gallery

Artist Statement

For me everything is about art all the time. In the 1950’s, art critic Harold Rosenberg coined the term action painting. It’s a phrase that I keep coming back to. My practice is as much about the act as the action. The finished painting is a physical manifestation, or residue, of the action. Rosenberg’s definition of art as an act rather than an object, as a process rather than a product defines my studio practice well. Applying paint, scrapping it away, layering, and accumulation. Although my paintings are seemingly abstract they are rooted in my everyday experience.

My practice is as much about the act as the action. The finished painting is a physical manifestation, or residue, of the action.

The ever-changing landscape and structures of the metropolis inspire my work. Over the years I have documented Chicago; the lake, the gardens, the skyline, its people and construction sites. All these elements and textures influence my work. My interest is in sensory overload and stimulation. I grew up in a small rural farm in Iowa. I remember going for long walks through the fields and woods, contemplating what is out there. Today I live and make art in Chicago. I still go for long walks, through an ever-changing environment, which influences my art making. I believe some of us, artists, are born with a creative energy and soul to make art. I am bombarded with visual stimuli in Chicago, and love it; I believe more is much better. The pace of people, traffic and hectic life make it easier for me to notice the subtle changes of textures, colors, forms and light as I move through the city. These changes quickly catch my eye and give me a moment to rest. Many times I spend much of the course of a year, documenting construction sites and am interested in what was and will be.

My painting process is not dissimilar to the continual push and pull on the growing metropolis; as crews raze a structure so others are building new projects. In the way a mark is applied, a color is laid down and then scrapped up and moved away, only to let another layer build-up the painting.

Color for me is movement; movement through the city is color. A big influence on my practice is Hans Hoffmann whose push-pull theory owed much to his surroundings. The tension of space, form, line and color all ring true in my process of painting.

The elements of nature give many structures in Chicago a nice patina. Flakes of paint chip off buildings, leaving behind a history of paint strata on the structure. Rust becomes more dominant on boxcars as they haul commodities from Chicago to the west and back. The city gardens are full of intense colors and textures in the summer. My paintings have much to do with these observations and a keen sense of sight.

Over the course of months, my abstract paintings are razed and built-up. My canvases are opaque and full of color, texture and visual stimulation.

In my workspace, I cover the walls with the images I document, colored papers I have collected with different patterns and textures to bright toys filling my studio. There is so much influence in my space the eye can hardly rest; it is intense energy and colorful happiness. I work on a series at a time, as many as fifteen paintings. Sometimes laying down the background, other times scrapping away and covering it up. Each time adding more texture through the thick layers of paint. Over the course of months, my abstract paintings are razed and built-up. My canvases are opaque and full of color, texture and visual stimulation. Steeped in the tradition of oil painting, my paintings are best seen in multiples to get a sense of the sensory overload and rapid eye movement on a subject with the subtle changes. My paintings stimulate the viewer’s senses, which can give off a sensory overload. My life is art and molded around life.

Artist Bio

Darrell Roberts grew up in rural Iowa, attended the University of Northern Iowa and received a BA in Art History. Moved to Chicago, attended The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, and received a BFA and MFA in Fine Art. Darrell continues to support himself by teaching painting and drawing, and makes his art.

Teaching Experience

Hyde Park Art Center Courses:

Figure Painting/Drawing
Working from the figure, students develop their own sense of style with their choice of medium from pastel, charcoal, ink to acrylic and oil painting.
Sample Curriculum

Intermediate Painting/Drawing
Students have the option to work on more advanced still life compositions from observation or abstractly over the course of several weeks or work in their own direction from sketches, photos, collage, in their chosen medium such as oils, acrylics, pastels, ink, watercolor, gauche, charcoal or others. The instructor will help each student develop their work independently from each other’s work. This class is ideal for students who have completed the beginning drawing and painting course or have a previous art background.
Sample Curriculum

Beginning Drawing
Students will work from still life objects for six weeks, create a portrait and experience drawing the nude figure the last three weeks.
Sample Curriculum

Beginning Painting with Acrylic and Oil
Students will learn how to mix and apply acrylic and oil paint. Students should choose to work in either acrylic or oil paints.
Sample Curriculum

HPAC Lecture Series
Second Saturday of every month. Noon - 1 pm in the Resource Center. Followed by a guided tour of the HPAC and discussion of current gallery shows.
Sample Curriculum

Copyright © 2006 A:LIST.

Hyde Park Art Center