Russell Ratcliff
Artist Statement

The use of rocks as a medium for producing 2-dimensional images is both challenging and rewarding for me. Years of oil painting and studying rocks as a geologist has culminated in my combining geology and art. I would often try to duplicate rock textures in oil paintings, but realized the detail, variety and optical properties were nearly impossible to reproduce with paint. Being so enthralled with the possibilities the rocks held, I turned to them as my primary medium.

Within each rock are beauty and a geologic history. Each rock has been subjected to varying amounts of heat, pressure, recrystallization, deformation, alteration and weathering. Many of the rock relationships I use in my art could never occur naturally due to their differing environments for formation. Yet the forces driving the planet expose a multitude of rock types that I can use to express an idea, place or situation. I cannot compete with the rocks for variety and complexity, but I can use rock relationships to present my interpretations of the world, real or imagined.

The rocks cannot be changed or reworked easily, therefore I let the rocks take the lead on an idea. If they can’t be forced into a situation, I change the image to fit the rock or find a more suitable rock. Balancing what I want and what the rocks can provide is part of the creative process and often results in strange or surreal compositions. Ultimately I want the rocks and image to work together in providing a literal bond between the physical and artistic worlds.

 

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