The process of making a work of art begins long before drawing the composition for Scott W. Parker. Literally exploring the land while figuratively exploring the idea of landscape Parker creates in the media of drawing/painting and printmaking. He considers the path of travel and creation to be closely linked, sometimes the path is familiar or it's foreign, sometimes it is ordinary or extraordinary and sometimes it is just a bad trip. This drives the artist to his next piece or project. Before the choices of color, the use of pattern and repetition or the creation of space within the picture plane Parker spends time within the environment of the subject to better understand and learn. "It is important to experience the location with all senses, to create ordered work that captures the mood of distinct landscapes" states the artist. Whether finished on site or created from study materials Parker employs color, pattern and the creation of space to allow the eye to move through the subject. Parker often imagines stepping into his own work and being able to walk within the 2-D confines. With memories of his life Parker looks ahead to the next work.
Parker's block prints and paintings adeptly capture the innate character of place and time. A talent for laying out landscapes that are fluent, expressive and honest is clearly demonstrated in his works. With a keen eye for detail as well as an emphasis on value, Parker achieves pieces that reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary. Parker creates drama in each of his works through color, light and pattern, transforming architectures and places into vibrant pieces of art.
Parker, a Colorado native, lives and works in New Mexico. After the successful completion of the Gulf of Mexico Survey and the National Park Project Parker plans to complete his initial investigation of North America and visit the pacific coast of Mexico and the Northern provinces of Canada.
Parker has consistently mounted solo exhibits in Seattle, Chicago, Denver, and New Jersey, and has participated in group exhibits in Chicago, New
York, Denver, Bozeman, Montana, and Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Parker's work can also be found in collections ranging from the Anschutz Collection in Denver, Booz, Allen and Hamilton in Chicago, the Hofstra University Museum and the Forbes Collection in New York, amongst notable others. His work was featured in an Absolut Vodka Commercial,"In an Absolut World."
Biography
Solo Exhibits:
2011 October, "Place and Time- The Paintings and Prints of Scott W. Parker" Visions West Gallery, Denver
2010 October, "Scott W. Parker-Drawing, Prints, and Paintings" - Visions West Gallery, Denver
2008 June - "Selected Works" - City Boy Forge Gallery - Chicago, IL
2007 Oct "New Colorado Paintings with other selections" - the Duke Beardsley Studio - Denver, Co
2005 Mar- May "The National Park Project" - CenterSpace/Gallery 37 Center for the Arts -
Chicago, IL
2004-05 Dec-Jan "National Park Project - Drawing Selections" - National Park Conservation
Association - Seattle, WA
2004 Nov. "National Park Project - Drawing Selections" - Sam Akainyah Gallery - Chicago, IL
2004 Sept. "National Park Project - Drawing Selections" - Tam O'Neill Fine Arts - Denver, Co
2002 Sept. "Interiors - Chicago Cultural Institutions - Studio Gallery - Chicago, IL.
2001 Dec. "Block Prints" - Studio Gallery - Chicago, IL.
2001 Nov. "Recent Works" - Studio Farm - Far Hills, N.J.
2001 April "Travel Drawings from 2000" - Studio Gallery - Chicago, IL
2000 Sept. "Landscapes: Colorado" - Elizabeth Schlosser Fine Art - Denver, Co
1998 Dec. "Still Life" - Elizabeth Schlosser Fine Art - Denver, Co
1998 April "Bridge Towers" -The Union League Club of Chicago - Chicago, IL
1996 Nov. "Colorado Landscapes" - Elizabeth Schlosser Fine Art - Denver, CO
1995 Nov. "Chicago Narratives" - Bice Ristorante / Automatic Art Gallery/
Caf' Gordon - Chicago, IL
Group Exhibits and Awards:
2010 Denver Art & Antiques Show -- Denver, CO
2009 Twilight Park 62nd Annual Art Exhibition - Twilight Park, NY
2008 Studio Farm Art Exhibition - Far Hills, NJ
2008 Twilight Park 61st Annual Art Exhibition (featured artist/ demonstrator) - Twilight Park, NY
2007 Twilight Park 60th Annual Art Exhibition - Twilight Park, NY
2007 Visions of New York - ASL printmakers - Manhattan Borough Presidents Office Gallery NY
2007 Annual Print Exhibit - the Art Students League - New York, NY
2006 Snow - Pinon Fine Art - Littleton, CO
2006 Twilight Park 60th Annual Art Exhibition - Twilight Park, NY
2006 Gallery Artists Show - Pinon Fine Art - Littleton, CO
2006 Le Juene Salon - Denver, CO
2005 Print Club of New York Artist's Showcase- National Arts Club - New York, NY
2005 Colorado Mountain Club's Landscape Art Exhibition Gala - Denver, CO
2005 Le Juene Salon - Denver, CO
2004 Le Juene Salon - Denver, CO
2004 Kent Denver Country Day School Alumni Show - Denver, CO
2002 Winter - Artist Member Show - Marblehead Arts Center - Marblehead, MA
2001 Winter "URBAN SCAPES" -- Steppenwolf Theatre - Chicago, IL
2001 Fall " The Box Project" - Mac Daddy - Chicago, IL
2001 Oct. "Wild Rivers" - Visions West Gallery - Bozeman, MT
2001 Fall "Bare wall's" - Gallery 2 - Chicago, IL
2000 Fall "Bare wall's" - Gallery 2 - Chicago, IL
2000 Summer "Temporary Midway Mural" - Midway Airport - Chicago, IL
2000 Summer "What is the Sound of one Person Playing?" - Water Works Gallery
City of Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs - Chicago, IL
1999 "Cows on Parade"-- City of Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs - Chicago, IL
1998 Fall "Bare wall's" - Gallery 2 - Chicago, IL
1998 Fall "Art Scape" - Hyde Park Art Center - Hyde Park , IL
1998 Summer "Art N' All that Jazz" - The Goodman Theatre _ Chicago, IL
1997 Fall "Bare wall's" - Gallery 2 - Chicago, IL.
1994 Summer "Open Book" - 450 Broadway Gallery - New York, N.Y.
1994 Summer "Central City Opera Invitational Art Show" - Denver, CO
1994 Liquitex Excellence in Art - Student Grant Recipient
1994 Spring "Still Life Exhibit" -Student Union of SAIC- Chicago, IL
1993 Kent Denver Country Day School Alumni Show - Denver, CO
1992 Lorenzo Di Medici Institute Spring Exhibit - Florence, Italy
1988 National Scholastic Art Photo Show - Gold Key Award - National Merit Award
Collections:
Hofstra Museum Permanent Collection- Hempstead, NY
Mammoth Cave National Park Collection - Mammoth Cave N.P., KY
Anschutz Collection - Denver, CO
Bradley Petroleum Collection - Denver, CO
Ahima Corporation - Chicago, IL
Booz, Allen and Hamilton - Chicago, IL
Wolters Kluwer Collection - Chicago, IL
Forbes Collection - New York, NY
Headwaters MB - Denver, CO
Posters:
1999 Chicago Bascule Bridges - City of Chicago - Chicago, IL
1997 Central City Opera House Summer Season - Central City, CO
Articles & Interviews:
2005 848 Chicago Public Radio
2004 Christian Science Monitor
2004 Anchorage Daily News
2004 Vail Daily
Large Projects:
2006 Feb - Apr Gulf of Mexico Survey
2002 - 2004 The National Park Project