Richard Burke Jones

Lives and works in Newburyport, MA, USA

Artist statement

Just as a good painting deserves a solid support and underpainting, the artist deserves and, I suggest, requires a solid philosophical support. As an undergraduate I studied both philosophy and fine art. After a brief time as a pre-med student I wished to discover the ‘best’ philosophy of life while also bering seduced by the world of painting - both the history of painting and methods of painting. There is a wonderful approach to life described by Brother Lawrence, a 16th century Cistercian monk in France, as “living each moment with God”. His masterpiece is called ‘Practicing the Presence of God’ which lays out a simple way of daily living by recognizing each moment and activity as an affirmation of the presence of God. As I paint, if I am mindful, I can feel each stroke of a painting as a testament to the beauty of God’s created universe. As I mix my colors on my palette, likewise, I can witness the beauty of an ultramarine blue mixing with alizarin crimson, for example. As I draw on my canvas or paper, I see the lines as witnessing the beauty of God‘s creation, whether it is a tree in a landscape or the outline of a figure. It is a way of staying centered, if you will, as one goes through the painting process and hopefully before and after the process of painting. I don’t feel rushed, and I feel a sense of overall completion, even a silent stillness. This stillness or peaceful spot can linger into a complete sense of calm - as though Jesus and Mary are holding me in...

Artwork