Timothy Allan Clayton

Art distinguishes between existing and living; it is the voice of the soul.

Passion is the driving force behind my artistic expression. This passion for art invades all facets of my life and as such, commits me to being a life-long student of art. I find that I actively seek out opportunities to learn and discuss art and art issues with all those who have an informed opinion on subjects related to art.

As an art instructor, I love to teach and inspire students of all ages. Thoughtful creative risk taking is one of my highest values. Art is such an intricate part of who I am. The artwork I create is intended to tangibly reflect my convictions toward the full expression of the cerebral, the spiritual and the aesthetic.

Art for me is both therapeutic and healing. There is a great spiritual catharsis for me when I am one with the paint and canvas. I am equally comfortable painting with both oils and acrylics as mediums. Acrylics satisfy my needs for drying- time efficiencies while oils are slow, rich and luxuriously textured. The effect I am able to achieve through the bold colours and rich texture is a recurring foundation of my work. I agree with the artist who described his artistic influences on himself as being fifty artists deep. The works of Bernard Cathelin, Frank Auerbach, Gordon Smith, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Gerhard Richter, Tom Thompson , the Group of Seven, and a plethora of others have deeply resonated within me and have influenced my artwork immeasurably. The aforementioned artists’ use of textures, colours, energy, risk and physicality, have all contributed to the manner in which I paint. Furthermore, visits to the great art museums of the world, including the Louvre, d’ Orsay, Uffizzi, Vatican, National and Tate in Europe and the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York continue to inspire and challenge me as an artist to set ever-increasing standards for myself.

My current body of work has grown out of a maturation in which I have fused my stylistic influences and distilled them into my own sensibilities. The bold statements made in my artwork pay homage to the historical art genres while, I believe, infusing them with a new life and vitality. My art is a spiritual manifestation of my humanity.

Art is the voice of my soul.