Don Tiller
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am intrigued with the imprint left on the landscape when touched by mankind.
Whether depicting fields and fences or the urban scene, I have given my interpretation of man's attempt to initiate order in nature. Natural chaos provides interest balanced with geometric repetition.
I remember drawing cartoon characters, animals, cars and imaginary rocket ships as a child. I drew on scrap paper, board ends and cardboard - anything that would hold a mark. My introduction to painting was through the tempera colors that my dad brought home from a local sign painter and the "borrowed" vials of pigment from my sister's paint-by-number kits.
I was off on an artistic journey that would take me through college and into the next decade, only to be interrupted to raise a family and build two successful retail businesses. After returning to art full time, oils remained my medium of choice until a few years ago when I made the transition to acrylics. They are less toxic, odor free, and transport easily on my frequent plein air painting sessions. Each medium challenges me differently to find a process that will reflect a conversation with the subject.
My body of work is primarily composed of interesting shapes and bold colors. The paintings are snippets of warped remembrances allowing you a glimpse of the things I have seen and the places I have been. When someone quips "I think I've been there" or "I know where that is" I know the connection between creator and viewer has been made.
EXHIBITIONS
2011
Artisans on Taylor - Port Townsend, WA. Upcoming in August
Toucan Gallery - Billings, MT. Upcoming in August
2010
Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery - Bellevue, WA. Solo Show
"Plein Air" Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA. Group Invitational Show
Alchemy of the Abstract V - Northwind Arts Center. Port Townsend, WA
2009
Bishop Victorian Hotel - Port Townsend, WA. Solo Show
Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery - Bellevue, WA. Solo Show
Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA. Dual Invitational Show
The Art Mine Lobby & Second Floor Gallery - Port Hadlock, WA. Solo Show featuring "Succession" series
2008
Port Townsend Gallery - Port Townsend, WA. Solo Show as guest artist
Alchemy of the Abstract IV, Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA. "Knobs" Merit Award
2007
Art Port Townsend, Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Fountainhead Gallery - 625 W. McGraw, Seattle, WA. Solo Exhibition: June 7 - July1, 2007. "Neighbors--The Connection Series"
Associated Arts of Ocean Shores - Ocean Shores, WA. "View from the House" Merit Award
2006
Fields and Fences; Near and Far - Port Townsend, WA. Bishop Victorian Solo Exhibtion
ISAP/USA 9th Annual International Exhibition - Delray Beach, FL. Cornell Museum of Art & History Juror: Pat Dews AWS, NWS
Capitol City Visual Arts Exhibit - Olympia, WA.
Sequim Arts Annual Show - Sequim, WA. "River at Dusk" Merit Award
2005
Small Expressions IV - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Art Port Townsend - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Edmonds Arts Festival - Frances Anderson Cultural Center - Edmonds, WA
Capitol City Visual Arts Exhibit - Side Door Studio - Olympia, WA
2004
Small Expressions III - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Figuratively Speaking - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
PUBLICATIONS
Watercolor Artist, February 2011, "Watermedia Showcase Competition" Honorable Mention, "A New Season" acrylic on canvas, 30x40, pg. 33
Western Art Collector, May 2009, article pgs. 68-71 "Complex Connections"
The Billings Gazette, June 5, 2009, article Webb, Jaci. "Tiller's youth on SD farm inspires bold paintings"
The Artist's Magazine, July/August 2008, front cover and article pgs. 30-35 Secor, Deborah. "A Cultivated Order"
The Artist's Magazine, March 2008, page 38, 21 Artists Over 60, Dobush, Grace. "Splendid Over 60-Starting Over"
Wine Country This Week, April 11, 2008 edition, page 48, MJ Schaer Gallery Welcomes New Gallery Artist, Don Tiller
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Visitors Guide, April 12, 2006 edition Northwind Arts Alliance, published photo for ad, page 43, "Summer Pasture", acrylic, 18" x 22"
The Port Townsend Leader, WEEK A & E, February 1, 2006 Meyer, Kathy. "Making the Jump", cover story
ARTIST STATEMENT
Whether depicting fields and fences or the urban scene, I have given my interpretation of man's attempt to initiate order in nature. Natural chaos provides interest balanced with geometric repetition.
I remember drawing cartoon characters, animals, cars and imaginary rocket ships as a child. I drew on scrap paper, board ends and cardboard - anything that would hold a mark. My introduction to painting was through the tempera colors that my dad brought home from a local sign painter and the "borrowed" vials of pigment from my sister's paint-by-number kits.
I was off on an artistic journey that would take me through college and into the next decade, only to be interrupted to raise a family and build two successful retail businesses. After returning to art full time, oils remained my medium of choice until a few years ago when I made the transition to acrylics. They are less toxic, odor free, and transport easily on my frequent plein air painting sessions. Each medium challenges me differently to find a process that will reflect a conversation with the subject.
My body of work is primarily composed of interesting shapes and bold colors. The paintings are snippets of warped remembrances allowing you a glimpse of the things I have seen and the places I have been. When someone quips "I think I've been there" or "I know where that is" I know the connection between creator and viewer has been made.
EXHIBITIONS
2011
Artisans on Taylor - Port Townsend, WA. Upcoming in August
Toucan Gallery - Billings, MT. Upcoming in August
2010
Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery - Bellevue, WA. Solo Show
"Plein Air" Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA. Group Invitational Show
Alchemy of the Abstract V - Northwind Arts Center. Port Townsend, WA
2009
Bishop Victorian Hotel - Port Townsend, WA. Solo Show
Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery - Bellevue, WA. Solo Show
Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA. Dual Invitational Show
The Art Mine Lobby & Second Floor Gallery - Port Hadlock, WA. Solo Show featuring "Succession" series
2008
Port Townsend Gallery - Port Townsend, WA. Solo Show as guest artist
Alchemy of the Abstract IV, Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA. "Knobs" Merit Award
2007
Art Port Townsend, Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Fountainhead Gallery - 625 W. McGraw, Seattle, WA. Solo Exhibition: June 7 - July1, 2007. "Neighbors--The Connection Series"
Associated Arts of Ocean Shores - Ocean Shores, WA. "View from the House" Merit Award
2006
Fields and Fences; Near and Far - Port Townsend, WA. Bishop Victorian Solo Exhibtion
ISAP/USA 9th Annual International Exhibition - Delray Beach, FL. Cornell Museum of Art & History Juror: Pat Dews AWS, NWS
Capitol City Visual Arts Exhibit - Olympia, WA.
Sequim Arts Annual Show - Sequim, WA. "River at Dusk" Merit Award
2005
Small Expressions IV - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Art Port Townsend - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Edmonds Arts Festival - Frances Anderson Cultural Center - Edmonds, WA
Capitol City Visual Arts Exhibit - Side Door Studio - Olympia, WA
2004
Small Expressions III - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
Figuratively Speaking - Northwind Arts Center - Port Townsend, WA
PUBLICATIONS
Watercolor Artist, February 2011, "Watermedia Showcase Competition" Honorable Mention, "A New Season" acrylic on canvas, 30x40, pg. 33
Western Art Collector, May 2009, article pgs. 68-71 "Complex Connections"
The Billings Gazette, June 5, 2009, article Webb, Jaci. "Tiller's youth on SD farm inspires bold paintings"
The Artist's Magazine, July/August 2008, front cover and article pgs. 30-35 Secor, Deborah. "A Cultivated Order"
The Artist's Magazine, March 2008, page 38, 21 Artists Over 60, Dobush, Grace. "Splendid Over 60-Starting Over"
Wine Country This Week, April 11, 2008 edition, page 48, MJ Schaer Gallery Welcomes New Gallery Artist, Don Tiller
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Visitors Guide, April 12, 2006 edition Northwind Arts Alliance, published photo for ad, page 43, "Summer Pasture", acrylic, 18" x 22"
The Port Townsend Leader, WEEK A & E, February 1, 2006 Meyer, Kathy. "Making the Jump", cover story
