Seth McMahon

 I have been creating art as long as I could hold a pencil. It is something that occurs naturally in me, the same way that birds fly and fish swim. As a young boy with an over active imagination, art was the best way that I could share myself with others. It made my world not seem so lonely and made my reality more palatable for understanding. Over time I have learned to communicate my dreams with refinement and clarity. The practice of creating art has paralleled my personal evolution. As I continue down the path, I am constantly refining that which I know and expanding upon that which I don’t. It has become a way of learning, growing and experiencing in this world.

I take influence directly from the environment around me. The people in my life provide me with the insight and guidance to understanding the human condition. Whether it is a closest loved one or a random homeless person on the street, I have always found people to be incredibly beautiful. Art is the medium in which I have the ability to reflect that beauty back to the viewer.

I take influence from the paintings themselves, for each one of them is a teacher. Each one has a spirit and a life of its own. They come to me in the form of thought and feeling, and guide me through their own creation. They teach me to be humble, patient and loving. Often times these works can extend beyond me as an individual. The pieces I make are capable of showing things to people that I will never understand. I do feel that I am creating these works, but equally so I am only channeling that which already desires to come though.

I take influence from great artists both of my time and of the past. I have always had an appreciation for many different types of art. Abstract, visionary, tribal, conceptual, classical and urban are all styles that I have drawn from. Creating has always made me feel that I am a part of something greater than myself as an individual. It reminds me that I am directly partaking in evolution. Ever since the earliest cave paintings, our symbols have been evolving to accurately reflect our environment. Thus as an artist, I am a part of a long lineage of people who are guiding culture and common belief. I feel it is my duty as so to evolve the symbols of our current time to stand for beauty, truth, and positivity.