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VAN B. CORDLE
I consider myself to be a natural surrealist and although my paintings may at first bring to mind such terns as 'photo-realism' or 'super-realism', but they are in fact, quite painterly. Although they have been tightly rendered to give the illusion of reality, they are unlike the photo-replicative paintings of most photo-realists. When and if I take photographs, I use them as sketches to be used and surpassed, not as goals to be reached.
I am inspired by the simplicity and nostalgia of old neon signs.
I knew a few other artists had done some similar works, like John Badder did an occasional sign included in his Café series, but thought I was the first to do a serious series of oil paintings on Neon signs back in 1984, It has been for me a joyful series to do. where ever I go it is always exciting to find a sign Ive never seen before, or research historical documents and discover signs that no longer exist. it is almost a race against time sometimes as a lot of great old signs are being torn down or disappearing from neglect.
