Larry Cwik – Fine Art Photographer
USA, Pacific Northwest
Mediums
photography, drawing, short film
Fine Art Photography
(top to bottom)
From The Visitor Series: 30 Years Photographing Mexico
Float
Brown Self-Portrait
From Totem Series
Totem 41 (Flower)
Totem 44 (Bellflower)
Totem 47 (Page)
Artist Introduction
Fine art photographer, with some work in drawing and short films.
Style
I like mystery in my work and have been influenced by surrealism. Beauty is important and I strive for that in my work as well.
Technique
I generally allow my subconscious to influence when I photograph. For my drawings, most come from my imagination and are usually not pre-planned. For my short films, I usually get the footage first, generally on Super 8, and then edit them and add music that matches or enhances the feel of the footage.
Themes
My main photographic series are: The Visitor: 30 Years Photographing Mexico, and Totems, stacked triptychs of selenium-toned gelatin silver prints inspired by the Totem Poles of the First Nations peoples of the Pacific Northwest. I like to provoke thought in my work and capture unusual scenes, with unusual juxtapositions. Other projects have included a series in Morocco, a photo-essay of Greenland, and a series of images of Industrial Districts.
Influences
Georgio DiChirico, the great metaphysical painter, is my favorite. I also love many of the surrealist artists including Man Ray, Rene Magritte, Yves Tanguy, Salvador Dali, Remedios Varos, Max Ernst, Leonora Carrington, and Dorothea Tanning. Contemporary artists that I admire include JoAnn Callis and Cindy Sherman, and the late Francis Bacon. But there are many other artists whose work I love and admire and am inspired by.
Why do you create art?
I need to create like I need to breathe. It is part of my essence as a living being.
3 Words that describe Larry Cwik
creative, fun, thinking
How Often do You Create?
Not every day, but often. I do not force myself to create unless I am traveling on a photographic project, in which case I just make myself available to my surroundings.
Do you Make a Living with Your Art?
Not yet. I hope to.
Interesting Story in Your Life
I got stranded on the side of a road in the dark in the cold on the way back from hitchhiking to photograph in Zion National Park, Utah when I was in my early 20s, and had a police officer drive me to the Utah border with Nevada, en route to my motel further on, but then had no cars at all there on the road so had to knock on someone's door and ask for help. The people who answered the door were very nice and let me stay there, at their house in the middle of nowhere, until the next morning, when they very kindly drove me to where I needed to be. I will never forget their kindness. Also, I will never repeat that stupidity!
Contemporary Artist Recommendation
JoAnn Callis is a great contemporary artist. She is mostly a photographer. Her work in an exhibit in the early 1980s at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland was very influential. She recently had a retrospective, in 2010 or so, at the Getty Museum, Los Angeles, with a book released with it.
Art Promotion
Personal web site. Facebook fan page.
Where do you see yourself as an artist 10 years from now?
Living off of my art, with more museum collections and exhibits.
Advice to New Artists
Keep growing. Keep making art. Be persistent. Do not give up. Stay inspired. Travel if you can. See lots of art. Make friends with other artists. Read about art. Grow as a person. Make your art a priority.
Larry Cwik – Fine Art Photographer, Film Maker, Drawing Artist
Artist Website: Larry Cwick
Facebook page: Larry Cwick Photographic Fine Art
Short Film – Andorra by Larry Cwick
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