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BIOGRAPHY
C.
D. Clarke was born in Rochester N.Y. and received his BFA in painting from
Syracuse University in 1981. His life long interest in the
outdoors, hunting and fishing in particular, has made it a subject for a
substantial portion of his work.
C. D. Clarke has
traveled extensively, painting in the Caribbean, Scotland, England, Hawaii,
The Bahamas, Canada, Alaska, Montana and South America. His work captures
the light and most importantly the feeling of sparkling bonefish flats,
misty Scottish salmon rivers, raw windy marshes, icy Chilean alps, and
warm sunny Argentinean pampas.
RESUME
Christopher D. Clarke
3374 Fallbrook Park, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Occupation: Professional Artist
Education: 1981 BFA Syracuse University, Painting & Illustration Major
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I have always had two strong interests: art and the outdoors. I
started out in a program that
would have put me into the Forestry School at Syracuse University.
After one semester I realized that forestry was chemistry and math,
so I turned to art.
I
did nothing for three years but paint. It didn't matter how the
paintings turned out, I just did them. I learned everything I could about
landscape painting. That's when I learned to
enjoy the process of watercolor. I got a lot out of Syracuse University, but none of
the knowledge that I use as a landscape painter came from there, other than maybe basic drawing skills.
All of my knowledge of light and how things are recorded and responded
to came from years of working outdoors on
location. That's the most important thing an artist can do. What an
artist learns about light and color in the field is indispensable.
I am commissioned by hunters and
fishermen who collect sporting art to capture their favorite locations in
watercolor and oil. I take four to six major trips each year to sporting
destinations all over the world. Many of my paintings are created right on
the spot, standing on a rocky beach, in a windy marsh, or on a sparkling
flat.
I also record the people and equipment on film so that I can add
them to my paintings when I am back in the studio. Working in this manner,
I end up with an accurate depiction of the sporting scene. The boats,
planes, dogs, rods and guns, as well as the anglers and hunters
themselves, are all correct. And the light, colors and feel of the
landscape are true to life. At other times I will use the sketches I made
in the field along with my reference photos as the basis for a painting
completed in my studio under more controlled conditions.
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