Josh George

Artist Statement

My studio is about 500 square feet, with large windows that bring in morning and afternoon light and let fresh air clear the turpentine. A fluorescent lamp adds steady illumination. I work at a sturdy wood easel, surrounded by a file cabinet filled with oil and acrylic paints, brushes, tools, and thick palettes built up over years. On the floor are wallpaper sample books I’ve collected, along with labels, maps, stamps, and ticket stubs. These materials are central to my collage process. Often, a color or pattern sparks the beginning of an idea and leads me to wonder what story can emerge from discarded fragments. I begin with sketches and photos, building from loose ideas rooted in everyday scenes. My subjects are usually unnamed figures in familiar situations that hint at a larger, unseen narrative. I often use my wife and myself as models to study details like how light affects form. After quick thumbnails, I draw with oil crayon on a wood panel primed with saturated latex paint. Getting panels can be difficult—I sometimes rent a van or carry cut pieces home from the lumber yard. Despite the effort, each blank panel feels full of possibility. Next, I glue collage elements with gel medium, carefully building layers of pattern and texture. I block in shapes with acrylic using a palette knife, letting fragments beneath show through. Once dry, I refine the image with oil paint, bringing clarity to the chaos. After days of adjustment, I decide if the work is complete. When it is, I sign it and apply a final varnish outdoors.