Born in New York in 1965, John eventually moved
to southern Florida and began painting in the late
1990's. Much of his work is influenced by his
natural environment particularity the horizon
where earth meets sky. This subtle definition of
space grounds his work to a sense of place without
limiting what can be experienced there. His work
is as much visual as it is visceral. There is not
only image, color, light and dark, but texture,
design, and balance.
John works in a process of layering, pouring
and scraping off, leaving traces of earlier
information, a build up and overlap of successive
stages which ask that the viewers attention
continually adjusts in order to consider the
various perceptual possibilities within the subject.
The paintings reveal themselves slowly, asking
you to explore each successive layer underneath
and to examine the relationship between space and
depth, presence and absence. His desire is to draw
his viewers into the conversation.
"The biggest difference is my approach," says
John. "Rather than undertake each painting with a
predetermined idea of the outcome, I've started to
let the pieces unfold on it's own and, as a
result, the work has come to me a lot easier."
"I have experienced an epiphany in letting the
process guide me in revealing the painting, rather
than "painting" the painting."
Inspired by what he describes as his day-to-day
environment, Schuyler's studio is designed for
promoting serenity and concentration. He hopes
this soothing and sense of calm and control
translate into his work.
Artist Statement:
The inspiration for my work is both selective
and indiscriminate. After the initial influence
sparks the beginning of a painting, the piece
generally takes on a vision of it's own, a
relationship develop between us and occasionally
conflicts must be overcome. At other times it's
very passionate and I'm in the moment, not
questioning the end result, trusting it will take
me where it wants to go.
My work has evolved over the years and
continues to undergo numerous transformations. The
Ultimate intention of my work is to evoke an
emotional response. I hope each viewer takes away
his or her own strong feeling from my work and
that the work somehow resonates on a unconscious
level with them.