June & July Downtown Member Artist: Luke Carlson
My recent oil paintings depict animals that have inspired me in some way. I am interested in the idea of a “spirit animal” that we humans feel represents our personality in some way. “Turtle in the Bathroom” was inspired by a friend of mine who identifies with turtles. While painting, I dream up situations the animals could find themselves in, such as the new bathroom in my parents’ house. In a couple of the paintings, I have experimented with placing the animal subject in backgrounds that are influenced by places I have lived or traveled to. The tradition of representing animals goes back to the first images made by humans in caves.
Luke Carlson is from Schenectady, NY. He graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2014. He is looking forward to painting “en plein air” in Vermont this summer.
To learn more or inquire about a piece contact:
Email - lukecarlso@gmail.com
Website - www.cargocollective.com/lukecarlson/paintings