D. Worth Doty
Artist’s Statement
My artwork is a combination of drawing and painting. I find the line between areas in art is often thin and vague. As this line is thin so too is the line between areas of study and personal interests as well as the perceived natural world and the everyday. Ornithology has been one of the driving forces behind my work for many years. I combine my love of birds and the natural world with my personal thoughts as well as my social and political agendas.
My process involves a lengthy layering of paint and medium to create the ground for the images. I have used a variety of both painting and drawing materials for the works on wood. I build wood panels to draw and paint on in order to have a more durable work surface that can hold a variety of materials and techniques.
I often utilize an isolation of figure(s) for visual interest and emphasis of idea. This I believe is a direct result of growing up on the Llano Estacado where the sky is a celebrated and enveloping force in everyday life for many. I use a large image in connection with areas of smaller more delicate drawings. This serves to create a juxtaposition of ideas and to draw the viewer in and extend the involvement. I firmly believe that good art is an experience and requires effort and time spent on the part of the viewer as well as the artist.
I also believe that activities away from our everyday world can alter the way in which we see and shape our ideas about daily life and current events. When one is out in the “natural” world (which can be accomplished in many ways and increments of time) there is not only a presence of what one sees and hears and smells but also the memories and thoughts about our everyday world. Let’s take for example that moment of clarity while driving through a rural area. There are often two or more series of thoughts going on and sometimes they can overlap each other or be heard at the same time. This is the area that I am eager to explore. I can recall driving to Spokane from Lewiston very early in the morning. The Palouse was snow covered and the sky was very blue. There were animals present and the snow worked to isolate the figure of each animal. As I noticed some discarded metal objects and a coyote I had to remind myself to pay attention to driving. The coyote reminded me of one of my dogs that has suffered a recent back injury. I was imagining her running freely over the hills. Once moving in to this area of thought my mind was flooded with images I would like to “place” in the snow. This is a painterly and poetic view of the mind that I enjoy and try to capture in my work.
Artist’s Statement
My artwork is a combination of drawing and painting. I find the line between areas in art is often thin and vague. As this line is thin so too is the line between areas of study and personal interests as well as the perceived natural world and the everyday. Ornithology has been one of the driving forces behind my work for many years. I combine my love of birds and the natural world with my personal thoughts as well as my social and political agendas.
My process involves a lengthy layering of paint and medium to create the ground for the images. I have used a variety of both painting and drawing materials for the works on wood. I build wood panels to draw and paint on in order to have a more durable work surface that can hold a variety of materials and techniques.
I often utilize an isolation of figure(s) for visual interest and emphasis of idea. This I believe is a direct result of growing up on the Llano Estacado where the sky is a celebrated and enveloping force in everyday life for many. I use a large image in connection with areas of smaller more delicate drawings. This serves to create a juxtaposition of ideas and to draw the viewer in and extend the involvement. I firmly believe that good art is an experience and requires effort and time spent on the part of the viewer as well as the artist.
I also believe that activities away from our everyday world can alter the way in which we see and shape our ideas about daily life and current events. When one is out in the “natural” world (which can be accomplished in many ways and increments of time) there is not only a presence of what one sees and hears and smells but also the memories and thoughts about our everyday world. Let’s take for example that moment of clarity while driving through a rural area. There are often two or more series of thoughts going on and sometimes they can overlap each other or be heard at the same time. This is the area that I am eager to explore. I can recall driving to Spokane from Lewiston very early in the morning. The Palouse was snow covered and the sky was very blue. There were animals present and the snow worked to isolate the figure of each animal. As I noticed some discarded metal objects and a coyote I had to remind myself to pay attention to driving. The coyote reminded me of one of my dogs that has suffered a recent back injury. I was imagining her running freely over the hills. Once moving in to this area of thought my mind was flooded with images I would like to “place” in the snow. This is a painterly and poetic view of the mind that I enjoy and try to capture in my work.
