Cliff McReynolds, my step-father and American visionary artist, painted this surreal landscape with oil on Masonite in 1976. Per his website cliffmcreynoldsart:
“As evidenced by his inclusion in Who’s Who in American Art since 1978, Cliff McReynolds has been an important and vital contributor to American Art for over 40 years. His art is shown prominently in galleries throughout the world and his paintings are featured in the collections of major corporations, art institutes, and private collectors throughout the world.”
Artist’s Statement:
Like most schizophrenics, criminals or artists, I’m out of step. First century reverence makes more sense to me than twentieth century sophistication. I see imagination as a better source of art than experience. Originality seems a natural byproduct of an artist’s progress toward his potential, rather than a goal.
Since my goal is art locked into the real universe, I believe that conforming to universal creative principles offers a better chance for success than ignoring or opposing them. I’m not interested in “self-expression” or “personal truth” but in truth itself, particularly in its aesthetic and spiritual dimensions. In fact I define art as the creative expression of truth.
Because I use the trial and error method – mostly error – I experience painting as a series of emergencies building to a central crisis; will it be a work of art or trash ? Even a good result is a mixed blessing because it can get you half believing that perfection is just around the corner. Not true of course; one of the beauties of perfection is that the closer you come to it, the farther away it gets.
Certain distinctions often elude me as well; the difference between freedom and license, success and fulfillment, and especially between willfulness and tenacity. Years ago I approached all this with common sense, willpower and reason. These days I prefer something more practical, like prayer.
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