Joaquin Allen
Artist Statement

Art is a very important part of my life.  Through drawing and painting I am able to share my passions, emotions, and imagination with others. In reverse painting on glass I find a
balance between chaos and order; not being able to control some paints on glass and having to plan many steps ahead of myself to create an image.  I enjoy taking a piece of
glass that is obscure and temporary, that has out lived its usefulness and transforming it into a thing of timeless beauty to be enjoyed and stir emotions for generations.  
Through experimentation and discovery I have created many techniques.  It is my goal to teach others what I have learned; to see what amazing images other artists can
create.  I believe that reverse painting on glass should be explored more often by artists.
Glass as a medium is very exciting and liberating to me, I feel the possibilities are endless.  Due to the unique properties of glass I can use paints such as acrylic and spray paint
in unconventional ways in which they were never intended to be used to create amazing textures and incredible shadows with multiple layers.  I rarely ever use a brush, instead I
use found items as stencils, razor blades and steel wool to remove paint and create negative space.  Using these items in combination with water, alcohol and fire I am able to
manipulate the paints.  I gravitate to paints and colors that tend to change with the lighting and environment where the paintings are displayed, such as fluorescences, metallics,
and glow in the dark.  I often take into consideration back lighting, shadows, and types of lighting and am constantly experimenting.  It is my goal to stir people’s emotions and
imagination. Similar to a cloud in the sky or an ink blot, I want everyone to see something different every time they view one of my paintings. I find myself impressed with a piece
of art that has me wondering “how did he do that?”  I am constantly trying not only to solve that question but create images that invoke that question in a viewer.
It is my goal to display my paintings worldwide and be accepted by the mainstream art community.  In the meantime I enjoy providing affordable paintings to people of all
incomes.  I hope to make a collector of someone who otherwise would not think of themselves as an art collector.  I am on an artistic journey of discovery and experimentation,
constantly expanding my techniques and refining my images.
-Joaquin
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