408-385-1713
408-385-1713
Angus’ work is immediately evocative of the masters of the past. He’s an expressionist in the purest sense, manipulating his subject in color and form to evoke his own interpretation and vision of the subject, blnding his imagination with the subject. There is a strong link in the work to the post-impressionist and artists such as Gaugin, Cezanne and Matisse. However on closer examination, elements of late expressionism and modernist abstraction can be witnessed. For example, his palettes are often bolder, the compositions more contemporary, and color planes presented flatter than the traditional post-impressionists.
Isaac Newton is quoted with “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” Angus has confidentially stood on such shoulders, and become a giant in his own rights. He has defined a style onto himself, an evolution of what’s come before presented in a way that is both evocative and fresh, reminiscent and new.
When people view my work they are struck by the bold strokes and strong use of color. Certainly my first response is to color and light, I then searches for ways to enhance this response.
Matisse was quoted as stating 'Seek the strongest color effect possible... the content is of no importance.' Within my work I find an uncanny resonance and empathy to these remarks. For it is not the subjects I respond to but their shapes and forms, and the emotions and drama that they produce. I'm drawn to subjects through nuance and often quite subtle lighting effects, however this is simply a starting point for my creative process. Though initially I work quite closely with my subject, I progressively move away from the source, choosing instead to focus on the canvas itself. A painting should stand alone, and be judged and appreciated on it's own merits; and there's nothing drearier than a faithful representation. By working on the canvas alone I can bring more of my vision, my emotions, and passion to the work. Thus, I become closer to my ideals.
Within my paintings I strive to create a singularly unique vision on the world. A projection of my feelings, and imagination on the subject, providing a distinctive voice that is unlike anything else. Every painter leaves their marks on the canvas, it's impossible to hide, whether with brush, pencil or knife, we can always see the artists mark and recognize the work with how they paint. This identifiability and the importance of 'having a style' is fundamental to me. I would feel I had failed unless my work is instantly recognizable and seen as distinctive and unique."
Angus Wilson was born and raised in Scotland and has lived in numerous cities throughout Britain. He has worked as a professional artist his entire career (25+ yrs), however his work has been varied and few would say his path to a fine art career was by a traditional route. Originally attending art college in the disciplines of photography, film, and animation, Angus then pursued a career in television and video, as well as the computer entertainment market. Angus worked as a director, producer, editor, and animator, winning international awards for his animation and for a number of his entertainment products. Throughout this period of his life, 'traditional painting' functioned as a sideline. However in 2004, with growing popularity in his work, Angus made the decision to pursue his fine art career full time. In lighter moments he jokes that his skills have 'regressed', from cutting edge multimillion dollar Computer graphic animation projects to merely pushing paint around a canvas!
The artists work is reminiscent of many great post-impressionists, such as Matisse and Cezanne, but there's also a contemporary underpinning that gives his work a powerful kick of originality justifying his growing success and loyal following.
In 2007 Angus relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, he works mainly in oil and acrylic. He has and continues to be involved in numerous shows, displaying work internationally. His work is collected and held by museums, corporations and collectors worldwide.
Follow this link to see a list of previous formalized exhibitions and shows.
Angus's work is strongly inspired by the impressionist and post-impressionist painters. Pulling ideas and themes from the masters before him to create his unique and singular voice.
Cloisonnism (or Synthetism)
A strong influence of Cloisonnism can be seen in Angus's work. A style popularized by artists Paul Gauguin and Paul Serusier, and among others used to some degree by Vincent Van Gogh. Cloisonnism was a technique inspired by Japanese wood block prints, using flat areas of color with strong outlines to define shape and form.
Cubism
Some may confuse the 'dissecting lines' that penetrate the artists Still Life paintings as Cubist. However Cubism pioneered by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, was a move away from the impressionist movement; an attempted abandonment of color, emotion, and sensation. Angus's work couldn't be more different from the structured order of Cubism; after all his work is centralized around color and emotion. Despite this, it's hard not to feel these lines and alteration of perspective are perhaps reminiscent of a latent form or evolution of the Cubist movement.
Colorists, les Fauves and beyond
Angus's work has always been about color and his response to it. 'Fauvism' was a loose group of early twentieth century artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong color over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism. The leaders of the movement were Henri Matisse and Andre Derain. At first glance, Angus's palettes and color choices are too strong and dramatic to be compared to the Fauves from the turn of the 20th century. However, his inspiration has sprung from these historical colorists and has been blended with a more contemporary palette. Angus himself would site his contemporary color inspiration coming from Bay Area painters such as Raimonds Staprans and Richard Diebenkorn. It's this blending of two worlds, separated by almost 100 years, that gives Angus's work such a unique and powerful statement in both color and form.
Scottish art
Finally it's impossible not to recognize the passion and inspiration that Angus draws from his birth country of Scotland; the country of his educational and formative years. In his youth surrounded by European art, he was also immersed (especially in later years) in the works of many Scottish artists such as Henry Raeburn, Arthur Melville, Samuel Peploe, Joan Eardley, and 'the Glasgow boys', to name but a few. He also grew a particular love for many of the British post-war era artists, a love that remains today, and continues to be a guiding inspiration within his work.
Copyright for the art featured on this page other than the work of Angus Wilson is held with the respective artist.
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