Artist's Statement (2005)

I was born the same year as Rock and Roll. She's been my sister, my inspiration, challenging me to find my own tune through my art.

Like Rock and Roll, I take inspiration from many places: a birthday, something in the news, or in the lyrics of one of her many messengers. My art is my song, and I find my voice in portraits.

Drawing musicians, writers, pop-culture gods and goddesses allows me to see them figuratively, imaginatively, even spiritually. I might join Joni Mitchell and Mark Twain for a smoke in an all-night bar, or assist Bonnie Raitt stirring a can of blue paint with her Stratocaster guitar. Through art, I write the script where skinny rock-poet Bob Dylan, armed with a pair of pliers, outwits Brad Pitt, Trojan hero.

Art needs to challenge me, excite me. My hands and eyes are always active: images appear in my head before pen or pencil hits the paper. When I draw, it's close to writing, as fast and personal as a signature. I often skip around on a piece, applying bold areas of color and strokes so quick-jumping, they break the pencil nib.

I love pens and pencils, pushing soft-leaded pencils to spread color thickly and scratching lightly with a fresh-sharpened point to achieve fine lines. The result is both painterly and linear. My goal in a portrait is always to create more than a caricature; it is to capture a soul.

The subjects of my portraits come alive for me. I may realize I'm in love with Bonnie Raitt, and she might allow me to touch her hair to truly look at it. Bob Dylan tells me things about his lyrics he's never told anyone. Staring into Joni Mitchell's eyes for hours, I can't help getting lost. You can't get that close to people without feeling something very personal has happened. We talk. We sing.

We rock n' roll!

Kevin slatts Slattery Artist Statement page

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