Resonate Scale by Darren Kooyman
SITE #1:
Sir Winston Churchill Square
Darren Kooyman
Resonate Scale
“Much like a musical score, the paintings presented here are measures of time. They are ‘songs’ that chronicle where I was over a period. This is not to say that there is deep meaning in them for myself, or an intended meaning for the viewer. Instead, my main objective is to complete a painting in a way that is creative and interesting. ”
In Resonate Scale, Darren Kooyman’s paintings are measures of time. In his improvisational artistic process, Kooyman synthesizes the impressions that remain from his encounters throughout the day. Resonate Scale features his previously created paper studies alongside a live painting activation in which he will paint larger works on canvas directly on Churchill Square. During this live demonstration, attendees are encouraged to ask questions and may be invited to help paint some smaller works on paper.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Each work has its own individual look that I feel can be attributed to the varied experiences that I encounter each day. In this way, my paintings are subliminal representations of my experiences.
Most of my paintings begin in nature. There are no preliminary sketches, only the impressions kept in my mind. I believe that once a painting is started in the studio, an original impression is synthesized through the artist’s mind and body. At this point, the creative process becomes more of an improvisation. By leaning into this improvisation, I try to let my work breathe and to avoid getting in the way of its development. I attempt to give the painting what it needs—not just what I might want to give it. I let colour dominate until the composition has life; then the painting is complete.
The colours of the paintings have as much to do with my use of acrylic paint media as with the impressions I begin with. I am respectful of my medium; I never forget that what I am painting with is plastic. While this could evoke ideas about artificiality, cheapness, and disposability, to me the medium calls to mind ideas about permanence and durability. Working with this awareness, I create bold, vivid, colours, that are joyful while balancing between the natural and the surreal.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Darren Kooyman was born in Red Deer, Alberta in 1967. Kooyman works primarily in abstract acrylic painting but has also done work in screen-printing, digital imaging, and musical composition. He attended The Red Deer College Art and Design program and has a diploma in Publishing Techniques and Technologies from Langara College in Vancouver, British Columbia. His paintings are improvisational with a focus on colour and surface. Kooyman is inspired by the urban surroundings of the places he has lived in, including Ottawa and Vancouver, the human figure, and the prairie landscapes of his youth. He has had solo shows in British Columbia and Alberta and has also been a part of group shows in Ontario and British Columbia.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenkooyman/
Website: https://darrenkooyman.com/