Steven DaLuz, Neo-Luminism with gold leaf

I am compelled to do work that conjures up a sense mystery and ethereal light, whether figurative or abstract. My interests are evenly split between the two. While identified more with abstract works that are often landscape-referential, employing a process using metal leaf, chemically-induced patinas, oil, and other mixed media, I also consider the figure as endlessly relevant, with inherent potential for poetic introspection. Landscape, spirituality, and the figure all serve as inspiration for me. Collectively, my work often reflects upon primal questions about origins, the expressive beauty of the human figure, and the aesthetic power of light moving through an imagined atmosphere. In my search to find a genre that best fits my work, the little know genre of Neo-Luminism fits the bill best.

Like the “Luminist” style of the mid-19th century, for my purposes, “Neo-Luminist” art concerns itself with the glowing effects of light. It differs, in that “Neo-Luminism” does not necessarily concern itself with traditional landscape, does not rely on the masking of brushwork, nor is it overly concerned with detail. While it may share a feeling of tranquility, calm, and the sense of light piercing a soft, hazy “sky”, Neo-Luminist” works may also be dramatic and turbulent. “Neo-Luminism” is typically present in works that REFER to landscape (rather than literal landscape). It normally has aspects of ethereal light, and hazy atmospheric qualities. It may also be present in figurative works, so long as reflective properties of underlying surfaces are exploited to convey the effect of light.

My intention is not literal narrative. Instead, I strive for a kind of unspoken connection between the work and the viewer.
Steven DaLuz
Nov 11, 2010

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