Artist Reception, Thursday, June 7th 5-7PM
Nicholas Wilton’s paintings are visual poems, informed by nature and
personal experiences. Color, texture, and organic forms are layered into a complex visual weave
that’s informed by underlying feelings and the complexity of life. This new body of work relies on
the metaphorical, patterning and the abstract, rather than any particular literal iconography that
defined his earlier work. In a recent interview with Art Collector Magazine, Wilton explains- “It’s
the accuracy of the feeling I am interested in rather than the accuracy of a specific representation
that is already understood or recognizable. It is deliberately open ended, more obtuse for this
very reason. I want it to be reinterpreted, incorporated into the experiences and personal stories
of others.”
The spontaneous process of combining excavated color and texture informs the content and final
outcome of Wilton’s work. The delicate balance and juxtaposition of opposites, whether physical
or spiritual, are poignantly presented in all of Wilton’s paintings. The paradox of change—notions
of risk, fear and intuition—all coexist within a veil of optimism and hopefulness that permeate
Wilton’s art.
Nicholas Wilton was born in San Francisco, and spent his youth exploring the wilderness areas
of Marin County. As a young adult he studied design with the German contemporary glass artist
Ludwig Schaffrath, who catalyzed his ongoing passion for art making. Wilton studied art at the
College of Creative Studies in Santa Barbara and went on to receive his received his BFA from
Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. In addition to gallery exhibitions and the inclusion in
numerous private and corporate collections, Wilton’s paintings have been used on the covers of
the national bestseller “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, and Brene Brown’s “The Gift
of Imperfection”.
Nicholas also is the founder of the Artplane Method, a system of fundamental painting and
intuition principles that help enable the creative process. He teaches workshops utilizing these
principles and is completing a book titled the “Artful Life” which details the metaphorical
comparisons of art making and life.