I strive to tell stories with my art, whether indirectly as metaphors or directly as narratives.  Even a still life can tell a story.  My subjects may be dreamed, imagined, or experienced, as an autobiographical interpretation, but those invented from my imagination are the most precious to me.  Any person, place, time or thing can be a source for inspiration allowing freedom and diversity of subject matter.  Solving the problem of staying focused is handled by working in series, pursuing an idea until it has been explored, drained and pushed to the limits of my interest.  It is difficult to say how many different images may come from a basic “idea.”

I admire drawing, and use the medium of intaglio (etching) printmaking and relief printmaking to create much of my imagery. Many of my mentors:  Rembrandt, Goya, Whistler, and Picasso all excelled as draftsmen and etchers.  The love of a strong graphic image and the craft to produce it can be clearly seen in their prints.  I would like to think I am proceeding in the same direction. 

Coming from a math and science background, I am fascinated by the aesthetic beauty of mathematical equations, graphs and symbols and this has led me to the most complex equation of all:  the “Human” equation.  In an almost surreal way, I have begun combining and incorporating the human figure with these symbols.  The works are usually in an unexplained space where different scales and perspectives exist.  The symbols represent metaphors for knowledge and how this knowledge interacts with humanity.

Although I began as a painter in the mid 1970’s creating traditional landscapes, seascapes, and still-life work, it was while attending Guilford College much later that I discovered my true voice as an artist.  From 1990 till about 2012 I created hundreds of original prints and drawings/paintings (addressing the focus mentioned in the above paragraph), as well as other noteworthy mini-series including: “Souls” (whimsical predicaments of human souls) and “Tuscany” (interpretations from travels in Italy).

As I expand the "box" for my imagination, I have created images that I call "Nonsense" works, whereby I find myself drifting more into the realm of fantasy and surreal art, admiring the freedom and imagination that surrounds the Ex Libris artists and their traditions as well as the Surrealists.  These images evoke a similar freedom to me, allowing creation without strict restriction of content, simply going where my imagination leads me. Consequently In 2012 I found myself drifting into predominantly surreal imagery based on imagination, as well as a desire to return to the medium of painting.  I’m sure I will continue to create original prints, but as I re-visit painting I have also found a renewed purpose and focus for this wonderful medium.  I firmly believe an artist’s signature will follow him no matter what medium he uses.

John D. Gall