 Scott
Burdick was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1967
where his mother and father early on encouraged his interest in
art. “I spent a lot of time in hospitals as a child and remember
my mother showing me how to transform simple shapes like circles,
triangles, and squares into objects like planes, helicopters, and
fish. It seemed such a magical thing and made spending so much
time in casts and on crutches much more bearable.”
In high school, Scott began taking life-drawing
classes at the American Academy of Art under the legendary Bill
Parks. "Though
I'd always loved drawing, it was Mr. Parks who filled me with the
enthusiasm and discipline necessary to improve my skills. His love
of painting and creative expression infected us all." After
finishing the Academy, Scott continued his study at the Palette
and Chisel Art club, where he met his wife, painter Susan Lyon.
“It’s a wonderful thing being able to paint together all the time
and grow as artists together,” Scott says.
His ideas for paintings come from everywhere. “What
makes a subject attractive to me are the same things that attract
us all. The beauty of a young girl, the character of a weathered
face, the solitude of a farm at sunset, or even the story itself
behind someone or something that makes it interesting.” Scott believes
it is the job of the artist to recognize this when it happens,
analyze why, and use his technical skills to convey the feeling
to someone else. He notes that some paintings are as simple as
stopping at the sight of something interesting, while others may
take more time to research than to actually paint.
Today, Scott and Susan live in a rural area of North
Carolina. Surrounded by forests and the foothills of the Appalachian
Mountains, their house is a perfect resting place after the many
trips they take throughout the world in search of subject matter
to paint.
Artist's Statement
“I see painting as both a way of exploring the world and then as
the vehicle of sharing those discoveries with others. I travel
to find subjects to paint as much as paint so I can travel and
expand my horizons. Through this unique language, one can say things
that are impossible with words.”
Scott’s work has been featured in U.S. Art, Art
of the West, InformArt, Southwest Art, International Artist, Artist's
Sketchbook and Plein Air Magazine. It has also been featured on
the covers of Watercolor Magic, The Artist's Magazine, Art Talk,
The Artist's Magazine and American Artist. He is member of Plein
Air Painters of America. |
