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The Camden Public Library welcomes Jon Byrer for an exhibit of his poured paintings titled “Marvelous Marbled Maine Landscapes” in the Picker Room Gallery during the month of January*. The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, January 4, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Jon Byrer graduated from the Maine College of Art where he received a degree in photography and studied the fine arts. Jon creates oil paintings, experimental photography, and watercolor illustrations. He has been living and working in the midcoast area for the past 25 years.
“These paintings are my attempt at capturing the beauty of a fleeting moment. The sunrise over the ocean, the clouds reflecting on the surface of a lake, or a brief bloom of flowers. All of these moments are gone in an instant. One goal is to capture the momentary beauty around me.
Painting without brushes. At no point does a paint brush touch the canvas to manipulate the paint in this innovative process. These paintings are created by pouring numerous serendipitous puddles of enamel oil paint to create a unified image. Puddles of paint turn into landscapes, a vase of flowers, or even a portrait. With the canvas laid horizontally, the paint is poured, dripped, and carefully drizzled out of cups. Puddle paintings are made by pouring numerous puddles of paint onto the canvas from above. This process is done from start to finish with a wet on wet paint technique over 8-12 hours.
The entire surface of the canvas is slowly covered with puddles of paint which are carefully merged into one smooth cohesive layer that dries like glass. The mixing marbled colors are frozen in place when dried but maintain their swirling sense of movement. This technique reimagines how paintings are traditionally created without using an easel or paint brush. The puddles of paint emerge as familiar scenes of Maine’s magic and the splendor of the everyday.
Another important aspect of my practice is community art. Especially art in Libraries. Libraries are for everyone; for people who are seeking new ideas. Art is for open minded people who are looking for beauty. Libraries provide me an art venue within the community. By visiting public libraries and showing my paintings, I can bring my version of beauty to many different people who are seeking knowledge. Part of my art practice is getting the work out to the world through public libraries. Art cannot exist in isolation. People who like books like art.”
— Jon Byrer
*The Picker Room hosts meetings and library events and is not always open for viewing. Please call ahead or check our website calendar to see what’s happening daily.