Eddie Bruckner, Skewed Color Grid with Sparkled Mosaic, 12×16″, acrylic on canvas.
Note: I thought I would mix things up a bit and feature some of the artists in our #SupportLivingArtistsIn2016 series in a new way. An interview format naturally unfolded as I found myself asking each artist more and more questions about their art and process. Each answer allowed for greater insight into each artist’s unique perspective, thus bringing a greater understanding of their work. It may also be helpful to disclose that style of feature does not necessarily reflect an artist’s status or significance as compared with another artist; it is simply a different presentation. Thanks to Boston-based artist Eddie Bruckner for agreeing to the first interview of the series. Here we talk about his process, artistic influences and his love for art from a young age:
LKS: The illusion of mosaic tile is one thing that makes your work uniquely yours. I like how some ’tiles’ in this series pick up some colors from other parts of a painting and also how they add a bit of texture on a flat field of color. Are the tiles there for purely aesthetic reasons, or is there an idea or concept behind it?
EB: I first started painting the mosaic tiles in my painting, “Live Love Eat,” which was based on a photograph I took of a mosaic wall that struck me visually. I really like how it looks, how it adds life and energy into a painting, making it more fun and exciting. I also find that it affords me the opportunity to use it in a variety of ways, shapes, forms, colors, that contribute to the overall composition of the painting. It helps balance my artwork providing a unique center of interest, balance, repetition, and dimension.
Live Love Eat, 36×24″, acrylic on 3 canvas panels (triptych).
LKS: Your bio states your biggest artistic influences come from the art movements of the late 20th Century. Besides an obvious connection to the work of Mondrian, who are a few of your other all time favorite artists?
EB: Artists I admire (just to name a few) are Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ellsworth Kelly, and Edward Ruscha. Visiting Art museums and galleries, drawing inspiration from notable artists, participating in open studios, or trying something new and different with the materials I’m using are all things that inspire me to create art.
LKS: Your bio also states that you’ve been painting since a child? When did you know for sure that you would be painting into your adulthood?
EB: I’ve always liked art. I have a great photo of me as a 7 or 8 year old sitting at my easel painting. When I think back to some of my first pieces of art, they were created in my high school art class, or at least inspired by my art class and art teacher. I was fortunate to have had an amazing high school art teacher, Mr. David Brodman. He had a reputation of being tough, but I always enjoyed his constructive criticism, his approach to teaching, his passion for experimenting with new materials, and his constant prodding to push the limits with my artwork. I would skip lunch to spend more time in the art room as well as staying after school to paint, draw, and create.