“I had no idea I could paint early on. I took one elective art class during my last semester in college where the professor told me to always remember I have talent. The desire was never ignited until about five years ago.”

Allen Levy
by David Nassar
Photos courtesy of Allen Levy
Some people know early in their lives that they are destined for an art career. For Virginia painter, Allen Levy, this realization did not come until he first spent years in the corporate world. But, since he traded his suit and ties for paint and canvass a few years ago, Allen has not looked back. Working mainly in acrylic and mixed media, Levy describes his paintings as “[resembling] dreamscapes of the landscape,” and he achieves this distinctive style through layering, mixing, pouring and a healthy dose of chance. His experimentation with color, light and luminosity combine to form truly moving, and sometimes very abstract, compositions.

Growing up in Fort Wayne, IN and attending Purdue University, Allen started his career in marketing. It wasn’t until his senior year of college that Allen took his first art class.

“I had no idea I could paint early on. I took one elective art class during my last semester in college where the professor told me to always remember I have talent. The desire was never ignited until about five years ago,” he says.

Although he was a late-comer, Allen has no regrets about his choice to pursue an art career.

“I almost think it’s my destiny, how everything just came together, so I took the gigantic leap and said goodbye to the corporate world,” he says.

Allen has developed a unique style that combines elements of traditional landscape portraits with more abstract layering techniques. When asked if his Midwest roots had anything to do with his style, Allen replied, “Yes, without a doubt. The Midwest is very flat, which reflects my horizontal elements. Also, I live in the DC area, so painting was my way to relax and my style reflects this.” Allen cites Rothko and Turner as major influences, but admits that “as I am not formally trained, this truly is my own unique style.”

When asked about his process, Allen says, “I know what colors I want and a general idea of the composition, but I just let things happen to a degree. I think it’s better that way.  My process is all about layering. Each layer is a different musical instrument that, combined, creates something beautiful.”

With such a loose, improvisational style, it would be hard for many artists to determine when a piece is truly finished. Allen says that the composition must have balance, harmony and be “pleasing to look at.” He adds, “It’s done […] when it feels right.”

Allen Levy’s work can be seen at the Ann Arbor Street Art Festival on July 20 – 23. To view more of Levy’s work and learn more about him, visit http://www.allenlevystudios.com. Later this summer, Allen will be nearby at the Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile in early July and at the Port Clinton in Highland Park, Illinois in August.

“Art is how I respond to life in general.”

Richard Currier
by David Nassar
Photo courtesy of Richard Currier

Working out of his native-Florida, oil painter Richard Currier has earned numerous awards for his stunning figurative, still-life and landscape portraits. But, awards and accolades are not everything to him.

“Honor awards are very subjective and depend highly on who is giving it and who you’re competing with.  The biggest award for me is when someone appreciates your work enough to purchase it for themselves,” he says.

A professional artist since the late 1980’s, Currier’s work has been displayed at a variety of galleries and exhibitions across the U.S. After studying at Ringling College of Art & Design, he toured Paris and Amsterdam before returning to Micco on Florida’s east coast.  In reflecting on his time abroad, Currier said, “I stood in front of paintings for hours in museums awestruck by the impact of the work. I can’t say my work was influenced as much as the European attitude toward art in general [influenced me]. Art and artists are regarded with such respect and acceptance (at times to a fault) that we have yet to embrace fully.”

Art, Currier says, “is how I respond to life in general. I’ve always drawn and painted as far back as I can remember. I would have continued to make art whether or not it produced my income. I’m just fortunate that it has.”

But Currier has not always been certain about where his art career would take him. “I began as many do—just out of university or art school and say[ing], ‘now what?’  They don’t teach this part.  It took many years to discover my own voice and figure things out.”

With dozens of awards over the years and gallery representations at Angela King Gallery in New Orleans and at Lombard Contemporary Art in Orlando, it might be tempting for Currier to say he’s made it, but he says, “If you need stability and consistency in your life, don’t quit your day job. This can be a roller coaster with no guarantees.” However, he adds that, despite the challenges of trying to make a living through painting, “I could not think of a more meaningful and rewarding life as this.”

Currier will be displaying his work at this year’s Ann Arbor Art Fair. To view work by and information about Richard Currier, visit www.RichardCurrierArt.com. In addition to the Ann Arbor Art Fair, you can also find Currier at the upcoming Boardwalk Art Festival in Virginia Beach and the Cain Park Art Festival in Cleveland later this year.