David McLeod

Artist Statement

David McLeod produces medium-sized paintings that explore the limits of visual acuity with near-white surfaces and very low contrast variations across the surface, some involving textures of various illusionary and "real" materials. He also produces "drawings" that explore varieties of mark-making. Most of the "normal" drawing tools he uses can be liquefied in some manner giving him a wider range of possibilities. These "drawings" may also include collaged materials.

“Visual art, for me, is about peering into the mind of the artist.  The thoughts and ideas I express involve choices of specific external and internal perceptions.  Some of these are acquired from the physical environment and some come from the processes I use to produce the marks within each work. 

The quality of the resulting images depends on a subjective combination and organization of the myriad choices.  As each composition develops, a kind of dialogue/conversation develops between me and piece on which I am working.  When we both stop talking, the work is complete.  The viewer then evaluates the results.

In what I consider drawings, I use materials and tools that can be dissolved or liquefied.  Many of these are tools that are not usually considered dissolvable.  Collage is an aspect which allows me physical levels of variety as well. “

Artist Bio

David McLeod received a BFA in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and taught art in the Winnetka, IL public schools and worked with the IL State Dept. of Ed. on public school art ed. standardization.

He received an MFA in painting from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. David worked in the Artists-in-the-Schools/Communities Program with the NE Arts Council and conducted many workshops for various school districts and public institutions.  David also taught at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and has exhibited in solo and group shows including the Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha and the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery at UNL.