“The Seen”

There is lightness and there is darkness and everything is a blur. It is for us to use both. That is the point of these series of paintings. How one speck can really draw the eye, how peaceful, violent, or questionable that can be. But it is also important to wonder what it is we do not see.

It has been inspired by so many people and things across all forms of creation and life, because that is what I am painting: life. The major three aspects of my work: what we see, how clear that is, and the action and image that it is depicting; are all only a fraction of what exists. We will never truly know the full story, no matter how much we think we do.

I do feel like these things are the things worth living over. Those people. Those calm and wildly unique moments. The absurdity of that reality. Yeah, that’s the best.

Many artists who use oils will say acrylics are unforgiving because of how quick they dry in comparison, but I greatly appreciate that aspect of them, because you cannot change what has already been done. Like life, we cannot change the past, but you may build on top of what has come and continue to add layers, until you get to where you are. There is more of a chance for one to see through to the many layers of color and texture that existed in the early stages to get to the final image.

Oils continue to live in some form of suspension always with the possibility to be changed, but with my work, we are capturing a moment.  For me, these paintings are a living memory. A moment that we love to live in, and have somehow captured, but must also be remembered as just that, a moment, a memory.

As much as I’ve loved and wanted to do the abstract, to focus on funny creatures or wonderous things, through all my art, from the very beginning of watercolors and landscapes or the doodles I’ve been doing since I could pick up a pencil, all of my work has kept coming back to people. There is a great symbolism in other things, but this body is where all that we are is truly housed.

My work encapsulates movement and stillness all in one. There is tension and relaxation. These paintings are a snapshot into things that perhaps we shouldn’t be seeing, instead reserved for intimacy, yet here we are.

We think that way because we aren’t fully sure of what is going on, but still, on some level, we understand it. It is the question, the lack of information, while still yielding the recognition, and being comfortable there in that uncomforting place.

For interest in purchases please email nick.blocha@gmail.com with “Painting Inquiry” as the subject line.