Travis Blackburn
I work primarily in oil paint, creating figurative paintings and still lifes. My paintings often begin with photographs, sketches, or direct observation. I enjoy moving between these different ways of working and allowing the image to change as the painting develops. Some paintings stay close to their source, while others take on a life of their own.
Many of my recent paintings explore themes of isolation, connection, memory, and belonging. My figures often appear quiet or lost in thought, carrying emotions that remain unspoken. While the work is informed by my own experiences, particularly growing up queer in East Texas, I am less interested in autobiography than in creating images that leave room for viewers to bring their own experiences and interpretations.
Photography has had a strong influence on my work, particularly the work of queer photographers and photographers associated with New York. I am drawn to images that feel intimate and honest, and I often borrow ideas from photography when thinking about composition, cropping, and atmosphere.
Color has become increasingly central to my practice. Many of my paintings begin with a warm orange wash that remains visible throughout the process. I enjoy building color slowly and discovering relationships between warm and cool tones as a painting develops. Recently, I have become especially interested in how color can shape mood and emotional space within a painting.
As a self-taught artist, I have developed my practice through experimentation, observation, and consistent studio work. I enjoy studying artists I admire and finding my own solutions to the problems that arise while painting. The process of making a painting often feels like a process of discovery. Painting allows me to explore feelings and ideas that I do not always fully understand, and that sense of curiosity continues to motivate the work.
Exhibitions
TBD