JasonClayLewis

The Knife Cut paintings fall somewhere between calm and violence. Painting can be called an act of love, but it can also be an act of aggression. Caressing a canvas is one thing, but attacking a canvas is quite another. I feel the work uses both as a catalyst. Since the sword and knives have such sharp blades I have to be careful not to cut or puncture the surface and like a true master swordsman, there is a delicate balance between raw power and finesse. The paintings walk this line between action and intent. My work has always been best when it is about extreme opposites. Just like how a mask can completely transform a person, I believe that the instrument that an artist wields effects the outcome and perceived visualization of their art. With a weapon in hand the paintings transform through precision and focus. By repeating the process over and over again, I am trying to create a densely layered surface rich with networks of lines that radiate a quiet luminosity.