Biography
Welcome to Roy Lerner Paintings
Roy Lerner was born in 1954 and spent over 40 years making his mark on history in
the art world. Lerner created abstract, acrylic paintings with unique dimension and ample color.
He showed his art around the world including Germany, Italy and France. His work is
currently in a museum in Prague as well as the Flint Institute of Arts in Michigan. Lerner was
among a group of artists referred to the New New Painters. This group of artists changed the
modernist art world when they came together in 1978 by utilizing a new acrylic gel paint that
created a new look and feel on the canvas. Lerner shaped the art community by
teaching workshops at the local art center in Katonah, New York. Lerner was incredibly personable
and drew fellow artists in with his devotion to the field. His paintings range from smaller
paper pieces to gigantic canvases that illuminate an entire room.
"Making art is, for me, all about the honest intention of doing something for the love of
doing it then sharing the result with others. Clement Greenberg expressed the idea that art
steps in when words are not enough, when we seek a different level of communication.
Art helps us makes sense of the world. This is true for the makers - and viewers - of art.
Paintings give us a shared experience connecting the artist with the viewer, and the
viewer with other viewers. As with writing, you read a picture. Unlike writing, painting
conveys and evokes meanings and emotions as dance and music do, yet is unique unto
itself.
The toughest thing about painting is facing the blank canvas, breaking inertia and making
the first move. Once the first move is accomplished that stroke becomes the foundation
on which the picture is built. From that point on I call and respond, wrestling to create
balance and counterpoint. I look, and look again, waiting for a vision. When a vision
reveals itself I execute without delay before it evaporates. Painting is about making your
individual mark. My art is all about modulation, variations in color, shape, and texture
that catch our eye and ignite our interest. I stroke the canvas with a palette knife
depositing repeating lines of thick wet gel whose every facet catches the light. This is the
cornerstone of my painting structure. Each stroke contains evidence of touch and telltale
signs of emotion. After the first each subsequent stroke suggests the next and focuses the
possibilities more clearly. The process continues until the work is done. When that will
happen cannot be predicted. The point of completion often surprises me. If the picture is
good, it should scare me because it questions the known. We can learn more about
ourselves by exploring the uncomfortable as well as the comfortable. These paintings
encourage multiple interpretations.
Look at the picture. Complete the creative connection. Feel changed. Feel challenged."
-Roy Lerner, 2011
