John Fitzsimmons
"My figurative paintings originate with a fairly specific mental image. I then play with sketches, mock up poses that I photograph and possibly some small painted studies. I have a pretty good idea what I want but there is still room for it to evolve. I feel that a painting should express something that can't be expressed by some other means, and I dig away at the image trying to distill it to that non verbal level.” - John Fitzsimmons
An artist like John Fitzsimmons is one of the few deaf painters, who successfully transform their conflicts and battles as an individual into the universal language of painting. John Fitzsimmons was born in
Fitzsimmons’ figurative style took time to reach, as until recently he was creating non-narrative, painterly landscapes that examined his own existence in harmony with nature. The expressionistic use of bold colors of earlier works abruptly gave way to more subtle color scheme and abstract subject matter evolving into figurative themes, set against the tonal backdrop of natural landscapes. The metaphorical usage of serene colors, the rhythmic movements of the protagonist, the realistically done attributes are all like motifs stitched together with excellent skill and obliquity of his inner urges. The controlled color palette and repeated figure in sequential motion intrigue the viewer quite dramatically to take a voyage in the intrinsic avenues beyond the surface. Fitzsimmons’ works invite the viewer with lyrical sophistication. The narrow differences between similar images of the foreground create the main focus on the differences pulling the viewer closer to the painting. But once the mid or the back ground is trespassed it takes him into the alternative reality where the insecurities of self existence is questioned with deeper meaning or battled with quiet acceptance.
Fitzsimmons has shown extensively within the
