I'm an Expressionist painter in the style that began in the early 20th century and continues today.  Although I paint the real world it is a very personal and imaginative interpretation, leaning towards the surreal.

Elements are purposely altered and exaggerated.  I aim for dynamic color juxtapositions. My colors are not the colors of nature--a red face or lime green sky, while not logical, may feel "right" in the painting.  Features are abstracted--a single line may be all that is needed to express the gesture of an arm or leg.  A viewer once commented that I paint "flat, with depth."  In other words, I don't use shading or modeling but reduce the forms to planes, using only a few cues for depth, such as strong diagonals.  

The flow of life around me breeds ideas.  I am inspired by things seen, but also by pictures, poetry, dreams and memories.  My work verges on fantasy--however I do not create a new world as much as I reinvent the familiar.  As a young news reporter I was taught to capture the essence of a story quickly, and I have carried this principle into my painting.  Each new canvas is a domain to be explored.  My approach is flexible throughout and I may change things spontaneously as the story unfolds.  Often the finished work is somewhat different from the original concept.  I would rather accept a painting as unsuccessful than work it over a lot.  The freshness and kinetic energy of the brush stroke is essential to me and would be lost by endless modification.  I want every stroke to count.

GUY WILKINS studied art in Norfolk VA, while working in journalism and public relations in the 1960's, and has continued to work in the studio ever since.  He has taught several private students, encouraging them to develop a personal style and to keep painting no matter what life brings.  Guy exhibits in the mid-Atlantic states.  He has four children and six grandchildren.

THE DANCING MAN

A small book of Guy's paintings:   "The Dancing Man"  is available from www.blurb.com

Green Cover Version 2009
80 pages   Hardback or softcover

This collection of 75 paintings by artist Guy Wilkins spans a twenty year period from the mid 1980's to the mid-2000's.  Guy paints in a bold expressionist style, with a strong linear quality. His use of color is uninhibited and evocative.  Themes involve figures in imaginary situations.