Artist Gallery: Larry Rockoff

My approach to painting is strongly motivated by my love of color and the many factors that determine how it is perceived. I see the interplay between color and compositional design as key to my artwork. As such, I approach each piece as a puzzle to be solved, with the objective of creating a pleasing mix of color and composition. Primary influences on my paintings include the work of French artists Robert and Sonia Delaunay, and American artists Arthur Dove and Helen Frankenthaler. Other artists I greatly admire include Wassily Kandinsky, Adolph Gottlieb and Frank Stella. My preferred mediums are oil and gouache.

Most of my work can be described as abstract, but I use that term very loosely. As I see it, almost the entirely of art can be described as being abstract to some degree. Even the most realistic painting can be thought of as an abstraction from reality. A tree in a painting is not the same as a real tree. Likewise, even the most abstract painting will likely bring to mind thoughts of objects in the real world. A circle might remind the viewer of the sun, especially if it is painted yellow.

Our ability to perceive color is a uniquely human characteristic, and is determined not only by how our eyes work but also by our cultural associations with different colors. Two people can look at the same painting and have two entirely different experiences, and that is how it should be be. It’s the wonder of art, and that is a bit of a beautiful mystery.

For more info on Larry Rockoff visit larryrockoff.com or his online shop at rockoffartprints.etsy.com