Directory

Contact: Brian Payne
Phone: (814) 823-2751
Address:
602 Mechanic Street
Girard, PA 16417

Artist Statement

I am most well-known for my paintings, and I usually describe myself as a water media artist. However, my art is not limited to a single type of practice. I have a long background in all studio arts. Growing up, I worked at my family business, using carpentry and woodcrafting skills to create furniture and hand carved gifts. I still use my woodcrafting skills to make custom frames for my current work. Check out the History section of this directory for more background on me!

In addition to the many original and print options available on brianpaynestudio.com/shop, I am happy to work with my patrons to create custom art pieces. I am able to work within each client's budget and size constraints to create unique art for them! I have experience painting custom pieces for weddings, anniversaries, housewarming gifts, and all other occasions. I also create my fine art prints in studio, so that I can ensure quality. I can create sublimated prints of my artwork by using a sublimation printer (in studio) to heat press images within the surface of mugs, ornaments, and other items.

I also teach painting classes, called Art With Brian. Each class receives detailed, personalized instruction and guidance in painting one of my original designs. The goal of my Art With Brian classes is to actually teach participants the skills they need to complete the painting. These skills can then be used in another class, or painters can feel comfortable using the tecniques they learn to create art on their own! These aren't just drinking and color-by-numbers parties. Unless prohibited by the venue, all ages and skill levels are welcome. Art With Brian classes are designed to be fun, but my goal is to educate my students, so they can become more confident expressing their creativity.

I post new art on my instagram (@brianpayneartist) and facebook (@brianpayneart), and I just started a YouTube channel for my watercolor tuturials!

I also participate in many local art shows and gallery nights in our community, and actively try to support local businesses whenever possible. I am always excited to learn of new small businesses in the area. It is important to me, as a small business owner and local artist myself, to support the growing arts community in Erie. I feel that my contributions and participation will help to foster the culture/vibe of the arts community in our area.

History/Biography

History/Bio:

Brian Payne (Brian D. Payne Studio) is a visual artist living and working in his hometown of Girard, Pennsylvania. Formally trained at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, he continued his education at Triangle Technical Institute, and further honed his craft over 30 years of experience and practice. After mastering watercolor painting, and being accepted into many juried exhibitions for his watercolor work, Brian allowed himself to experiment with a variety of media and painting styles. His exhibition, Clarity, at Stonewall Gallery contained over 75 new paintings, created over the span of a single year. This exhibition was a catalyst for an increase in creative expression—Brian was inspired to create without limitations. This new attitude has allowed for freedom within Brian’s craft, and has solidified his place as an established artist within his community.

Artist Statement/Statement of Process:

While working in my home studio in Girard, I draw from firsthand observation, photographic reference, and life experience to get my preliminary sketches laid out. I prioritize quality and durability in my materials. This is especially true of commissioned pieces, which are often of high sentimental value. Leaning both on my technical ability and inclination for experimentation, I push the limits of the media in which I work. Although I am primarily a painter, I also have an extensive art background in graphic design, sign design and construction, carpentry, and woodcraft. Most recently, I have been inspired by the vibrant colors and challenging application of alcohol inks. In the past few months, I have created alcohol ink paintings on ceramic tiles and YUPO paper. The latter designs have been compiled into a calendar, which is currently being printed for sale. I constantly find inspiration in nature, and the textures and colors that can be found organically in nature. I am especially interested in creating expressive work that allows the viewer to feel as if it is adapting with his or her own ideas and moods.

I create energetic work that references nature, though the work is more abstract than traditional in style. I like to say that I control the chaos of the media with which I work. I never want my work to seem stagnant or predictable. My use of color, along with my signature fluid painting style, helps to create pieces that continuously captivate my audience. My inspiration drives me to work on each project tirelessly, until I am satisfied that my concept is clearly conveyed to anyone who sees it. I often work on multiple pieces concurrently. I create art that is a gesture of our natural world — evocative and designed to give voice to a memory. Though I have never lost my respect for technical draftsmanship, I have realized that I am not interested in portraying a photorealistic world. Through bold color and shape, I aim to craft visually stimulating impressions of my subjects rather than literal transcriptions of them. I allow loose, abstract forms and the interplay of color to draw a map for my compositions, which alludes to my own subjective experience of nature. In every piece, I embrace serendipity and focus most of my attention on creating the right parameters from which my art can emerge, instead of hoping to control every detail that you see in the final image.

Selected Achievements:

In addition to the hundreds of paintings, logo designs, and greeting card designs completed for many patrons along the way, some standout accomplishments include:

2005 -2007 Artist in Residence Asbury Woods Nature Art Camp, Millcreek PA

2005 Artist In Residence Villa Maria Elementary School , Erie PA

2016 Second Place 59th Annual Allentown Art Show in Buffalo NY

2017 Discover Presque Isle’s, Erie PA Premier Artist/ Designer of annual poster commemorating event

2018 Honorable Mention in the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s Annual Show

2019 People’s Choice Award Jay and Mona Kang Annual Art Show , Erie PA