Nathan Greene |
Nathan Greene rarely does an artist
emerge with the balance of strengths and emotional intensity
of Nathan Greene. His large, luminous paintings of Christ
in contemporary settings combine his unique style with
the painting traditions of the old masters to deliver
powerful images that go straight for the heart. Masterful
portraiture of human and animal subjects, meticulous
attention to detail, and landscapes that seem to vibrate
with life are all features of his work. Composition,
color and light are given equal consideration in building
the inspirational impact he achieves. |
Born in Michigan in 1961, Nathan's interest and talent in
art were apparent at an early age. By the time he could
hold a pencil, he began drawing and by first grade was
taking art instruction. His early years were characterized
by a constant striving to improve his observational and
artistic skills, earning numerous awards and recognition.
During high school, he traveled to the East Coast to seek
advice from leading illustrators. By his senior year in
high school, he already had a gallery selling his artwork.
He chose Chicago's American Academy of Art to further his
study for its emphasis on excellence in traditional painting
and drawing skills.
In 1983 he entered the highly competitive market of freelance
illustration, and by the end of that decade had established
himself by working for clients such as the National Wildlife
Federation, NASA, Focus on the Family, Christianity Today
as well as other large corporations, agencies and private
collections. His ability to convey intangible aspects of
drama and spirituality in his subjects attracted clients
who commissioned works for inspirational book covers, magazines,
and television shows. A series of paintings he completed
for NASA, depicting various scenes of the space program,
is a remarkable example of his ability to express the emotional
elements of a moment. The paintings not only describe the
scenes in all their detail, but also communicate the scale,
intensity and wonder of man's heroic attempts to probe
the heavens.
Nathan is very much a contemporary painter with a strong
foundation in classical art. His paintings include oil
on canvas and also a multimedia approach, incorporating
other drawing and painting methods and materials in the
same piece. The figures are painted using live models,
carefully chosen, then photographed under Nathan's direction.
He starts each project by producing a detailed pencil drawing,
the result of any number of exploratory sketches to determine
composition and light and dark values. The drawing is then
transferred to the painting surface, and he begins with
an underpainting. Working on the floor, he covers the canvas
with a thin oil wash of colors designed to set up a warm
and cool interplay which subtly shines through the layers
of paint to produce a glowing depth and richness. Next,
moving to the easel, he begins painting the actual image,
first pulling out the light areas, thenapplying the paint
to describe form, color and detail.
His choice to focus on inspirational Christian images seems
a most natural one.A spiritual dimension has always been
present in his work, conveying a sense of reverence and
wonder for life in all its forms. He hopes his art gives
people an impression of a kind, loving and compassionate
God, present through life's daily struggles and joys. There
is no doubt that, as Nathan Greene evolves as an individual
and an artist, his body of work will be significant and
his future bright.
Nathan Greene works at home in his studio in rural Michigan
with his wife and three children. He relaxes by running four
to six miles a day and enjoying his family.
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