David Kinker: Imagine an image that could be interpreted similarly by everyone from any culture or personal history. Because there are no worldly images that have specific meaning, an image which contains scales from chaos to contrived has the ability to change with our visual perceptions and ultimately allow our perceptions to be explored. The art becomes a door or mantra to ourselves. To get to this place of discovery in my abstracts, the intense study of aesthetics in nature would be my teacher. I find beauty in the cathedrals of river and canyon, where shadow and reflection are windows beyond our three dimensional world and change or motion never ceases. Metaphor is constant in my interpretation but I find my visual attempts to be a bit deliberate. Although surrealism is a favorite subject of mine, my art does not go to this dream state in symbolism and it is not culturally influenced. As a person connected to nature I find nature is not contrived or arbitrary but concrete as physical law.

I love one thing more than I love to paint, and that is nature. I grew up in a ranch-like setting in Jackson Hole, Wy and the rural mountains of Arizona. The landscape was as integral to my upbringing as was art. I have always had an incredible passion for the outdoors.

After my honorable discharge from the Navy, I came to Central Oregon to study art. I now have an art instruction practice and enjoy a strong following of aspiring artists. I am happy to live in Bend and have no plans to leave. In my free time, I brew beer, ferment wine, garden and, of course, spend time outdoors.

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