Wes
Motschmann
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"It took half a lifetime to realise, the thing that I was meant to do was within me all along."
I was born in Dayton, Ohio, where I spent a good deal of my youth doing the typical things most Midwestern boys enjoy; but, some of my most memorable days were spent walking the hallowed halls of the Dayton Art Institute with my grandma. I was mesmerized by Jacob Willemsz Delff''s portrait of "Machteld van der Graeff," captivated by Jean-Léon Gérôme's "L'Almée," and moved by William-Adolphe Bouguereau's "Le Chant du Rossignol."
Most influential was my grandfather, who was for many years, the Art Director for NCR before he developed a benign tremor in his hands. My grandfather was a self-taught painter and draughtsman. His paintings adorned his home, and the homes of many relatives. My grandfather taught me the importance of recognizing and appreciating beauty - the dinnerplate dahlias in the garden, the brilliant red Northern Cardinals in the conifers, the very trees themselves.
Art was around me throughout my life; and, I engaged that interest casually by visiting museums and galleries, watching painting programs and reading artist biographies. The thought of pursuing art in earnest seemed impractical - until now.
I am inspired by so many things and artists, that a paragraph cannot capture it all. I find inspiration in the things that get overlooked, go unnoticed or have long been forgotten, whether in nature or in history. I love the shapes and colours in the world that surround us. Some artists that have a deep impact on me: Euan Uglow, Henri Fantin-Latour, František Kupka, Andrew Wyeth, William Merritt Chase, Adolph Menzel, Anders Zorn, Lovis Corinth, Egon Schiele, Rembrandt, William Coldstream and Richard Diebenkorn to name a few.
My work is expressed in a variety of subjects and media - figurative, abstracts, landscapes, still life, oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, ink, graphite, colour pencil, soft and oil pastels, and charcoal. I do not believe in the old tropes of sticking to one thing. I believe growth is best expressed when you do not limit yourself to one medium or one subject.
At some point in our lives we commonly search for purpose. I found mine in the most tumultuous and uncertain times in recent history. I hope that my website inspires you in your search.
-Wes Motschmann
Fairfield, California, United States
1st of January, 2022
Life and Events
Feb 1970
Born in Dayton, Ohio
Jun 1989 - Jun 1994
Service in United States Navy
Jan 1995 - Jun 1997
Wright State University
Awards
May 2019
Honorable Mention, Northern California Arts, Inc.
Exhibitions
May 2019
Oct 2019
Nov 2021
"Artistic Journey," Northern California Arts, Inc.
"Animal House," Sacramento Fine Arts Center
"Pure Paint," Arts Benicia