Mickey Bond's Page

My Role

Artist

My Discipline(s)

Music, Visual Arts

About Me And My Work

My paintings reflect my daily response to nature's beauty, her dynamic forces and the mystery of creation. I work plein air as much as possible and in all weathers, even if that means only sketching in my car. I work in two styles: landscape paintings and mixed media abstracts. Though both derive from the same plein air experience, the landscapes evoke a particular place and mood whereas the abstracts explore an essential aspect of nature such as the sea, sky and land.
My current abstract series “Bottom of An Ancient Sea,” suggests sea life as it might have existed in a mythic, primordial state, when New Mexico was underwater perhaps. I've imagined a place of glittering light and motion where life forms are inchoate and elusive. I know that my imagery was deeply influenced by and a swim last summer over coral encrusted rocks in Hawaii, where a sea turtle led the way. I've used translucent handmade paper from Thailand and Japan featuring banana, mango and Unryu (mulberry) fibers. Casein, acrylic paint and acrylic medium, combine with the translucent papers to form diaphanous layers and passages where forms float and seem to sway.
As an abstract expressionist, I particularly enjoy the limitless additive and subtractive possibilities of mixed media on clayboard. I prize mark making highly and allow my compositions to grow out of direct contact with my painting media. My painting tools tend to be non-traditional such as scrapers, cloths, sponges, palette knives and steel wool as well as masking tools such as rubber cement and acrylic mediums.  I think of nature as my collaborator deeply affecting me and the mediums I use, sometimes with surprising results. Last winter, I discovered by accident how to make ice crystal prints on the surface of my clayboards.  A technique known to watercolorists but new to me capturing these delicate crystal patterns feels like a secret bestowed by nature. My current plein air series “Winter Dreams” explores the use of crystal prints as underpainting.
Born in Israel to holocaust survivors (from Poland & Bulgaria) I was raised in west suburban Boston, attended Colgate University as an undergraduate and later received an MA in American Literature from the University of Michigan. I have lived in Santa Fe since 1994.  In New Mexico, I am represented by Matrix Arts Santa Fe (505-501 2290) located at 429 Sandoval & Chroma Studios Gallery (505/554-3805) 600 1st Street NW, Albuquerque. You may also see my work in Arizona at Straw House Gallery (520-869-8626), located in the historic Amado Territory Ranch, 3001 E. Frontage Road, Amado.

Places I Would Like To Visit

I enjoy traveling and the inspiration I find in new places, new colors, new flora and new fauna. My current series was greatly influenced by my experiences this summer in Japan and Hawaii. I have traveled with several professional classical music choirs. I especially enjoyed my trip to Italy in 2008 with the Santa Fe Women's Ensemble.

Art Forms And Cultures I Would Like To Engage With

International exposure for my art through teaching workshops abroad.

My Creative Influences & Favorite Artists

Van Gogh, DeKooning, Fauvism

My Artistic Affiliations

Santa Fe Artist Guild, Chroma Gallery, Albuquerque NM, Straw House Gallery Fine Art, Amado AZ,Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Daily Abstract Painters

My Web link

http://www.mickeybond.com