Spotlight on Everett Spruill
Art has extraordinary power and it helps us all respect and appreciate our differences as well as our similarities. In African cultures art is viewed as an essential part of the community and always provide occasions for people to come together. It's difficult to generalize about the direction I wish to take with my art. But if my creations can somehow brings us together, enrich our lives, or help us understand each other, then I am rewarded and its purpose has been fulfilled.
Everett Spruill was born in Birmingham, Alabama.
After attending High School at George W
ashington
Carver, in Birmingham, Everett went to Berea College in
Kentucky, where he majored in business. Everett was exposed to
museums, and classical music at an early age and would prove to
have a great influence on his artistic development. "I
really enjoyed mechanical drawing classes and wood working
projects as a kid. I also had an ear for music so mom insisted I
have voice and piano lessons". For more than 20 years Everett, a
self-taught artist, has been involved in collecting and creating
works of art. He currently conducts art workshops for Central
Florida youth and is former owner of The Ethnic Art Gallery,
Orlando, Florida.
Everett
advocates the necessity of art to enrich our lives and firmly
believes the arts help us all become well -rounded and
constructive individuals. Everett is most known for his early
collages and works on paper,
notably,
his "Old School Jazz and Blues Series",
which feature colorful images of the fathers and legends of our
own American art form known as Jazz. After graduating from Berea
College and working as a Hotel Manager until 1989, Everett began
his career as a full time professional artist. Everett is
influenced by American Artists Arthur Rayford, Romare Bearden,
Jacob Lawrence Elizabeth Catlett, Charles White and Frank
Stella to name a few.
As a mid
career artist Everett explores his personal world of
contemporary aesthetics and culture. He creates a dialogue
with the viewers of his ethnically inspired images using his own
mixed media visual language. Spruill creates images in
bold colors, using a variety of mediums. His images are
ethereal,
thought
provoking and spiritual as they illustrate his Afro-centric
visions.
Spruill communicates his unique artistic language
through the use of intense color and rich surface textures. The
image is further enhanced with African inspired patterns, and
hand written social commentary to further communicate with the
viewer.
Paint, photos, various types of hand-made paper,
layers of glazes, watercolor, pen and ink, pastel and charcoal,
to name a few, are Everetts’ tools for conversing with the
viewer. Extensive use of airbrushed-hand cut stencils,
African textiles shells and symbols further enhance his visual
language.
These elements transform the pictorial image into a
work of art that has true meaning while transforming the canvas
into a rich opulent surface that invites the viewer to take a
closer look. Spruill, also an
innovative printmaker, transforms his original mixed media
collages into unique original graphics. The results are
evident to the viewer, as he adeptly creates images using a
process he invented using elements of serigraphy.
Everett accepts both
public and private commissions and his work is in corporate and
private collections worldwide.
EVERETTS' STATEMENT
"My creations have been categorized as Contemporary / Abstract Mixed Media Collages. I have three styles and use a wide variety of found objects, including, but not limited to, shells, magazine pages, tissue, postage stamps, var
ious
paint mediums, photographs, cut and torn hand-painted paper,
air-brushed hand-cut silk-screens, drawings, and computer
manipulated images. Central themes for my creations are
centered on Music (Jazz and Blues), African Cultures and the
African-American Experience, and most of all “Family”. As a self-taught artist my techniques are the result of extensive experimentation but mostly from studying works of great contemporary masters. I focus on the importance of drawing, composition, tone and mixing colors in each creation. Coupled with my own sense of color and design I developed my own distinctive styles."
"Most of my creations begin with photographs or several thumbnail sketches. Harmony and contrast are important qualities I want in my work and it becomes even more important in the works I call “Intuitive Creation” (Mindscapes, Tribal Rhythms and Middle Passages Series) because these images are created mainly by letting go of conscience thoughts and relying more on instinct. Because the steps are intuitive and emotional rather than cognitive, many times the exact processes are forgotten, the end result is therefore difficult to repeat. Nevertheless, I’m satisfied with a completed work when it consist of the all important variables of line, shape, color, texture, repetition, and balance."
"The
creative processes for my “Intuitive Creations” follow a number
of steps. I use gloss varnish to adhere drawings, photos,
postage stamps or torn and cut paper to the substrate.
Transparent tissue is applied partially covering and connecting
the first images. Using a wet-on-wet technique, watercolor
and acrylic washes and lines (mostly primary colors) are
applied, allowing colors to run, and partially covering and
connecting the adhered images into a harmonious unit." "To
create textural effects, clear acrylic gel is applied by knife
and scored or scraped into patterns. I then Airbrush through
several hand cut stencils to apply opaque symbols and designs
that will unite the composition. Accents and highlights
are added with splattered and dripped acrylic paint. These steps
are not always followed in this order, and some may not include
all the elements mentioned."
My representational
images (Jazz and Blues and Family series) include combinations
of the same techniques, materials and processes mentioned
previously, however, the central figure begins with a drawing,
usually from photos. Paper, fabric or photos are cut to form the
various sections of the image and or background and are
assembeled together like a puzzle." "I
work only on archival acid-free mat boards, watercolor paper,
and canvas. Hardwood panels are sometimes used for smaller
images and are triple primed and sealed with stain resistant
varnish to prevent yellowing from the acids in the wood.
Permanence and longevity are a major concern, every effort is
taken to best preserve and protect the work by using archival
paints (non-toxic) and substrates free of materials that shorten
the life of the work. Each work is protected front and back
first with mat varnish and finally with a gloss acrylic varnish.
Contact Everett at everettspruill@bellsouth.net - View/Purchase Everett's work at - http://www.everettspruill.50megs.com