Artist David R. Stanford is one of the newest additions to the Artwork Network roster, hailing from Fort Worth, Texas. His piece “Blue Grotto” was last week’s “Friday Favorite”, and he’s this month’s featured artist. I’m sure you can quickly tell why – these colorful abstracts pack a powerful punch! I was really excited to pick his brain about his creative process and how living in Texas affects his artwork.

David R. Stanford, artist

Introduce yourself in a single sentence.

David R. Stanford:  I am someone whose visual senses are very intrigued by what I see, whether it is in architecture, my primary profession, art, or sculpture, and the textures, patterns, sequences, volumes and complexities that exist or can exist within them.

What is your favorite piece of artwork from your own body of work?

David R. Stanford:  This is a difficult question, because I like several of my recent pieces, which are in a different style than I usually paint in. I like “Target” and “Grotto”, which are recent efforts, but then I look back at a piece like “Zeppelin” that I painted several years ago and the styles are very similar, but my knowledge of painting has evolved immensely.

How do you start a new piece?  Do you know how it will look beforehand?

David R. Stanford:  I seldom start with a definitive idea of what the painting will look like, and when I do, I usually change it before I am finished with it because I get bored with the original idea. I want each piece to be fun, challenging, and a learning experience to see how the painting will evolve and how over a period of sessions the layers that are added will impact the previous levels to create new tensions and conversations that interest me and others that view them.

When you’re done with a piece how do you know?

David R. Stanford:  Sometimes it takes years to finish and sometimes the painting will be finished in a couple of hours. I often paint some on the painting and then let the painting be on display for weeks while look at it, sometimes rotating it to see if I see something different from a different angle. Recently, I have started to take a photo of the painting with my phone and then make studies on my phone of what I might do for the next step. These are usually just quick ideas that may lead to something I might add to the painting. Ultimately, you just sense when a painting is finished and I call it done. Then I proceed to the hardest part of the process, naming the painting!

"Target" by David R. Stanford

You often favor vibrant orange and red in your paintings.  What emotions or responses are you trying to trigger with these colors?

David R. Stanford:  I like these colors because they are rich in color. Blue is probably my least favorite color, but I still use it. I like contrasting colors to draw out the best in each color. I actually like using white and black in my compositions, but often don’t get the same response I feel from those who usually see them.

People love to ask abstract artists about what their art “means” – how do you answer?  And how much do you hate being asked this question?

David R. Stanford:  For me, my art usually doesn’t have an intended meaning, but instead is about life’s struggles, harmonies, collaborations and resolutions. I enjoy seeing how the layers of the painting communicate with each other.

Artistically how does Texas nurture you?  How do you think your environment affects your paintings?

David R. Stanford:  I like the laid back environment in Texas, and I think this allows me to explore more options. I am also appreciative of the tremendous collection of art museums in the Dallas-Fort Worth region that allow me to see innovative works by other artists from around the world.

What do you think your work says about you?  Do your paintings offer insight into you as person?

David R. Stanford:  I hope my artwork shows that I like multi-dimensional thoughts and nothing is only black and white. I like to look at things from multiple viewpoints and see how the views influence the way something is perceived.

"Zeppelin" by David R. Stanford

Has anyone ever had an unusual interpretation of your work?

David R. Stanford:  I don’t know of any unusual interpretations of my work, but I do like to hear what people think. One of the things I hate most about painting is coming up with a title for the picture. Sometimes it is very obvious and easy to select, but other times it is very difficult. I like to ask people what name they would use for the picture. The titles they give me are often unique and something I had not thought of, but definitely give me an idea of what the piece says to them. I often use the title given to me.

What are you working on right now?  What’s in the pipeline for you?

David R. Stanford:  As I have throughout my career, I am experimenting with alternative ways of expressing myself. I am continuing to paint in the same format I have used in “Target” and “Grotto”, but I am also studying what you can do with acrylics. I have also started to explore mixed media pieces with the introduction of layering. This has been fun so far and I look forward to seeing what comes from this.

View More about David R. Stanford