Stuart Ross

After a decades-long career in graphic design and printing, I felt a burning desire to create with my hands and let go of the constraints imposed by commercial work. My early paintings were hyperrealistic; using acrylic paint, I sought to reproduce a photograph with as much detail as possible. However, over time I felt the need to add something different, something instinctual that photography could not produce. That's when I started using oils. Oils allowed me to paint more loosely, adding more texture, and abstraction to my work. My primary focus is expressive portraits and human figures painted in a style I would best describe as impressionistic realism. I paint whatever catches my eye; be it a beautiful woman, an atmosphere, or a certain look. Regardless of the subject, I seek for my paintings to ignite feelings of intimacy and love, although it is sometimes difficult for me to put these emotions into words. Painting gives me much joy, a chance to look within and search for beauty within the chaos of today's world.