Known for his powerful
use of light and color, Phil Starke is rapidly gaining attention among
galleries and museums. His numerous exhibitions keep him so busy that he
has a hard time fitting in occasional competitions that he finds
personally challenging. Now being collected on an international level,
Phil continually strives for the excellence his collectors have become
accustomed to. "For me, there aren't enough hours in the day", says
Starke. "I have too much I want to accomplish."
Phil became interested in art as a child living in
Europe where he got to enjoy the great masters in the museums of Italy
and Germany. His formal studies covered seven years, attending Central
Missouri State University, the Art Institute of Chicago and the American
Academy of Art, where he received his degree. From the beginning, travel
has been an important part of providing his collectors with a wide
variety of subject matter. Travel has also allowed Starke to stay fresh,
painting plein air, stimulated by the light and color of his
surroundings. "You have to work quickly because of the ever-changing
conditions around you", says Starke. "The sun continues to move,
changing the shadows and light of the location. Insects and wind can
also be problems you have to deal with. My goal is to paint so the
viewer can appreciate the beauty of the scene and somehow know how it
feels to be standing where the artist stood and "see" it through the
artist's eyes. If I've done my job right, anyone looking at my work will
be able to feel the "emotion of the moment" and will want to spend some
time with the piece -- taking in all the things I had to say."
