Giving Life to the Community
Artists
Philip Buller:
In 1982 I began painting watercolor while traveling in the Caribbean. The strong light was compelling. During the next ten years, as I dedicated myself to this challenging discipline, I developed an appreciation for qualities which are still at the center of my work. Most importantly, the phenomenon of light and its indivisibility from dark. As my devotion to painting deepened, I turned to oil on canvas as my principle medium.
In 1987, I chose to engage in more formal art education, receiving a BA in Fine Art from Sonoma State University and a MFA in painting from California College of Arts and Crafts. In 1994 I began teaching at Santa Rosa Junior College and privately in my studio and abroad. Time spent teaching in Italy each summer for the past ten years has enhanced my study of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance. The respect that I have for these painters is, I believe, visible in my work.
At this time, my painting involves representation of the human figure. My intention is to create paintings to which I have as deep an emotional response as possible. To guide me toward intensity of feeling, I use composition (the abstract relationship of shapes) rather than narrative as the primary vehicle. In this way I feel I am able to uncover meaning from an unconscious place. This particular process offers mystery, ambiguity, and ultimately the chance for transformation.
Philip Buller is represented locally by Andrea Schwartz Gallery. For more information please visit www.philipbuller.com
