REY BAECHER
|
|
GEOFF FARNSWORTH
ARTIST STATEMENT & BIO:
My paintings explore a relationship between figurative and abstraction in order to meld unconscious probing and stylistic innovation with a meditative figural base. It is important to me that the paintings work well as collections of shape, colour, texture, and energy, while also building a compelling image. Working with people and objects from my personal world, I focus on maintaining a balance between plan and accident, known and unknown, restraint and exuberance. My figures look out as much into mindscape as landscape.
Geoff Farnsworth, 2017
Geoff Farnsworth began his art training in Vancouver before moving to New York City to study at the Art Students League from 1997 to 2002. He trained full time from the human figure in various realist ateliers here before moving into abstract classes to continue exploring. The main artist and teacher he studied under here was William Scharf. William Scharf was the studio assistant and friend of Mark Rothko, and so a direct influence of the New York Abstract Expressionist school began to shape new directions into Farnsworth's painting. A concern for process, colour, and abstract composition began to meld into his figuration and form.
A post 9-11 environment with tightening visa restrictions finally prompted Geoff to follow his long time urge to move to Toronto. Here he continued to explore in his painting and to exhibit more. He currently lives and works in St. Catharines, Ontario. His paintings have been shown in New York City, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Niagara Falls, Norway, and Sweden.
