My work is, and will continue to be, primarily about one thing - Simple beauty.
I like to combine imagery of the human form along with something decorative, either ornate or simple, to compliment the figurative aspect of a composition. I am always intrigued by other artists and their craft. It's inspiring for me to use textile design, decorative objects or architectural elements to enhance my compositions and add a dynamic to the work. Combining the natural landscape and a figurative element is also part of my visual thought.
This combination of elements is nothing new, but as with what I intend to convey to the viewer, it is a timeless concept that can be appreciated on an innate level. There are aspects of the visual world that we, as humans, find beautiful to our eye, heart and soul. It is a degree of that certain something that I find simple, yet profoundly beautiful, which I aim to capture the essence of on canvas.
Occasionally someone will wonder why I don't depict "my time" or the contemporary world around me. I tell them that if I had endless financial resources, I would continue to surround myself with beautifully crafted furniture, fabrics, decorative objects all contained within a home endowed with architectural character. It is this aesthetic sensibility that enhances my life and makes me feel enriched inside. These things may have been popularized in the Victorian era, but remain an integral part of many peoples lives today, including mine. It's like going to grand opera. It's timeless. Regardless of the precedence, a contemporary artist cannot help but put his/her own new influence into it as well.
It seems, to me, that I have never been tasked, with the tools that have been given me, to be a historian, philosopher or prophet through my work. Additionally, I have never used a lot of metaphorical imagery in my paintings. I simply feel that my fundamental goal, whether or not I live up to that challenge, is to spread a little beauty out into the world.
I endeavor to convey the kind of beauty that requires nothing more than the image itself to understand or feel the aesthetic intention. If my work does not speak for itself, as a visual medium, I feel that I have not adequately conveyed my message.
I enjoy painting "my world" too. Capturing real moments in time, through "figurative genre", sometimes defined as a depiction of everyday life, has always been exciting and fulfilling. The impetus to paint a contemporary subject is still usually inspired more by aesthetic emotion or some moving emotional aspect of man than the need to capture the current day. All of the above said, I do reserve the right to never paint an image of someone using a laptop or wearing a Bluetooth device. It's just not me.
David Mueller
David Mueller, originally from the suburbs of Chicago, IL, currently resides in Northern Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, OH. He is a 1987 graduate of The American Academy of Art, in Chicago, whose fine art program had a strong focus on traditional realism.
"I like to create renderings that capture the essence of simple, yet profound, aesthetics . The current focus of my work is primarily figurative paintings, many including some kind of decorative element. I strive to create "timeless" images. My style is aimed at finding a happy medium between classical realism and impressionism. also love to plein air paint to try to capture the essence of natural landscape.
Since 1989, David has been creating renderings for many private and corporate collectors, including gubernatorial portraits that hang in the Ohio State capital. With collectors across the nation and Canada, David has shown his work at a number of exhibitions over the past ten years in the following regions:
New York, NY--Philadelphia, PA-- Los Angeles, California -- Greater Cincinnati, Ohio - Columbus, Ohio - Midland, Michigan - Birmingham, Alabama - Cedarville Michigan, --Miami, Fl., --Chicago, IL -San Antonio, TX
Most recently, David rendered a Christmas ornament that was displayed on the main indoor White House Christmas tree.
In March of 1993, David's work appeared on the cover of The Artists Magazine and in the feature article therein on his painting technique. Another article for the magazine appeared in the July 2004 issue. His work has been the subject of many regional publications, including print, television, and radio.
David is active in The Cincinnati Art Club, founded in 1890. Such notables as Frank Duveneck, Henry Farney, and Edward Potthast founded the club. It still is running strong today as the second oldest continuously operating art club in the country. David has demonstrated his techniques as a guest speaker there and many other regional organizations. He has taught oil painting/drawing privately and in regional workshops.
Over the past 15 years, David completed a number of commissioned works for private collectors and more recently has created large bodies of work for one-man shows in
New York and the Midwest .
Plein air painting, another passion for David, and research have taken him on travels through Quebec, Canada; Florence, Amalfi and Venice, Italy; London, England; Monhegan Island, ME; Gloucester, Massachusetts; Northern Michigan and Kentucky.
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