Featured Artist Jim Chaput

Artist Jim Chaput has embraced the digital realm in his art, creating multi-layered and dreamlike abstract landscapes. Visit his website to view more of his work.

 

 

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I started drawing and painting in high school. Then, I went on to study art and architecture at the University of Colorado in Boulder and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in the late sixties and early seventies. I graduated from UNC in 1971 with a teaching degree in industrial arts and fine arts, and spent fifteen years teaching at a high school.

 

 

My art training at CU influenced me the most as I grew to love abstracts. I learned later in my artistic life that my love of creating abstracts doesn’t resonate with over 60% of potential art lovers/buyers. The reason is that most abstracts do not have recognizable objects in them. People usually want to able to relate in some way with the art they buy and hang in their homes.

 

 

To answer this challenge of image identification, I have been focusing on doing a lot of abstract landscapes. These pieces contain just enough realistic imagery for people to identify with. It allows them to enjoy the abstract forms, shapes and relationships in the context of an altered landscape.

 

 

I get much more interest in my abstract landscapes then I ever did when I painted realistic oil landscapes.

 

 

My impressionist/abstract landscape images show the connection between the timelessness of the mountains and the vast universe that we all are a part of.

 

 

I have embraced the digital realm as my primary form of artistic expression. When I use software to create art, I have options for creating. Rather then modify and enhance images with a brush, paint and canvas, I paint and draw with my computer stylus in various programs. I still incorporate painted images into my digital work. However, the digital manipulation of my photos using my digital software is the driver for all of my art.

 

 

There are numerous and very advanced digital drawing and painting software options available to the artist. Corel Painter, for example, gives the artist access to every medium and every art technique that has ever been used for creating 2D artwork since the caveman.

 

 

This fantastic array of creative choices is all at the fingertips of the artist. This is an unusual and almost never-ending choice for the creation of digital art. It is wonderful and overwhelming at the same time.

 

 

When I’m shooting images to use in my art, I am routinely surprised when I start adding digital effects to images in my studio. Many times I use a combination of digital effects with watercolor, gouache, acrylic paint or ink.

 

 

The other compelling reason that I like digital art is that I do not need studio painting space to produce and store my art, regardless of the size of the painting.

 

Artist Jim Chaput invites you to follow him on Facebook.

 

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