About Me ~ Artist Statement

Jeff Neugebauer ~ Artist Statement


Painting has long been a way to communicate visually, and I also paint to tell stories. Not stories about me or my life but stories about "being" and consciousness. It's my commentary on the human condition, complexities, and truths. It's a way for me to re-record a spirituality that has been lost in the collective ego of humankind. I try to paint pictures that quietly speak volumes - and speak by themselves. If I'm successful, an image starts with a certain universe beyond me and ends by joining or awakening that universe in you.


At first glance you see a painting. Some are beautiful, some unusual. Hopefully, I can capture your attention just long enough for the story to start unfolding. I don't expect you, the viewer, to "come into my world" in order to understand and appreciate my images. On the contrary, I try to make my paintings "outwardly expressive" or "reflective" meaning many people will see or feel themselves in it.


The finished paintings you look at have had quite a journey from concept to completion. I usually begin every painting with some kind of thought or idea that I feel is worth thinking about. Then I sketch variations of the idea until I formulate an image that will best support the concept. Some images will be developed in a moment of inspiration while others may take many years.


I prefer to use the human form to convey my ideas for many reasons. The figure is extremely expressive - the way the face, eyes, and hands look or the tension in the body. And the pose, position and situation that the subject figure is in can provide more precise information about the story I'm trying to express.


For me, precision is very important in order to do my story telling well, I've worked hard to learn from the greatest visual story tellers - Rubens, Titian, Rembrandt, Carravaggio and so many other great painters. I continue my endeavor to learn how to draw and paint so that I can be true to what I have to say and to say it as eloquently as possible. My technique has been adopted from Renaissance Masters because it has proven to stand the test of time and yields beautiful final results that utilize the oil paint in the best possible way.


I learn from every painting and each one is an ongoing attempt to balance the technical, conceptual, and aesthetic combining them with creativity, precision, and depth. Thanks for your interest.


Artist Statement

I intend to move art forward by bridging the beauty of art’s past with the modern concepts relative to the 21st century.


Bio

My Art Exhibition history and accomplishments, Music history, Education and overall career path.


Images of my family and life

I put this link on for my Mom.

Throughout my life I have endeavored to be as accomplished as my body and mind will let me. To embrace this journey as passionately as possible.