david milton

artist statement / bio

I strive to capture an emotional response to nature and life in my art and I rely on process to guide my work rather than control.

My abstract work forms a tapestry. Color to convey energy and boldness. Line to express movement and form. Blending, layering, transparency and texture weave together to create dimension and depth.

Color for me is a voice, giving expression to emotions. By exploring the richness and variety of color, I strive to harness its magical power.

My technique of fusing colors, distressing, etching and marking, brings about a blending of physical and sensual immersion, creating a primal intimacy between my work and self.

The multidimensionality achieved by this layering, transparency and texture creates movement and tension. By focusing on one particular portion of a painting, areas that initially escape our field of vision are revealed. For me, this in part represents the dichotomy of our effort to mask our emotions or hide parts of ourselves, and our desire to explore, discover or be discovered. It also exemplifies my interpretation of the layers of life, where sometimes we see only the surface, until we take the time to look deeper into the interconnectedness of all things.

The influences of the South African culture of my youth are ever present in my work. Vibrant color, soulful harmony, resonant beat and rhythm, and raw emotion permeate my paintings. A core theme behind my work arises from my empathy with victims of injustice and racism and my wonderment at the ability of the human spirit to continue to embrace life and the abundant beauty that nature provides in our daily lives, whether or not we stop to smell the roses.

Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, David Milton was strongly influenced by the colors and rhythm of life around him. He gives expression to his emotional sensitivity by transferring his feelings to painting and sculpture.

After moving to the U.S., he continued studying at the Design Center in Pasadena, California, the Otis Art Institute and at UCLA. David's home base is in Bellingham, Washington. Currently on sabbatical in the Caribbean, he and his family cruise, live, work and play aboard the sailing vessel Ubuntu.