"Entanglement" by Richard Kopp

Acrylic Paint and Chalk Pastels

30Hx24Wx1.5D

My artistic process is a dynamic blend of traditional and digital techniques. I start by sketching with chalk pastels on canvas, a flexible method for shaping the composition. I then apply acrylic paint to define and refine shapes. The core of my technique is layering, where I repeatedly cover and rework areas with paint and pastels, building rich depth and complexity.

In a unique step, I photograph the evolving physical piece and use Photoshop to experiment with color, texture, and additional imagery. This digital exploration informs the final stages of the physical painting, though I don't always incorporate every digital alteration. This fluid interplay between media allows for constant reinvention.

My style focuses on the abstraction of the human figure and its environment, using gestural mark-making to create energy that is balanced by flat, contemplative planes of color. This approach, inspired by artists such as Jim Dine, produces works that uniquely blend elements of painting and drawing.

Ultimately, I am driven by a deep creative urge to explore the human condition and our environment, creating art for its own sake.