George Bougher

Artist Bio

I was born and raised in 1949 in Pittsburgh, Pa. I have wanted to be a painting artist since I was 15 years old and my passion for art was encouraged and nurtured by my mother, the Carnegie Museum and Carnegie Mellon University, from the fourth grade through high school. It was a tremendous experience. Since those days I have lived in many places and today I divide my time between my home in Memphis and my cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Painting has become a sacred source of initimacy for me.

Since my exhibit last year at the Dixon Gallery (October 2010-January 2011), my wife of 35 years gifted me with a "real studio"- she magically transformed our garage into a fabulous working space. These are the first paintings to come from this environment. I am grateful to Rose Brown for the opportunity to show my recent paintings at her beautiful gallery.

I've been influenced by many artists such as Giacometti, the Cobra Group, and Camille Pissarro. Pissarro voiced my feeling about art when he said, " I don't paint life. I put life into painting." When I paint, I develop relationships, dialogues and storytelling interactions (both conscious and unconscious) with the subject matter. I rely heavily on drawing and note taking and have never been comfortable going anywhere without pen and paper.

Like a person, my painting process has developmental stages. The field sketches and note taking produce a pool of information that keeps me continually educated and engaged. In turn, this reservoir of reference feeds the color and movement of my paintings. A couple of themes or a composite of themes are inside me seeking expression all the time. When I can't touch the painting anymore—I am finished.

Painting for me is a process, not an event. It is visual poetry that goes beyond what I know—into the world of feelings, instincts and drives. Painting is a gift, not a talent ,and learning to nurture and protect this gift has been my cherished duty. I hope you enjoy the show.