Bio / Artist’s Statement

Robert Koch

Born: Seattle WA. 1952

Graduate: University of Washington, BA Art & minor in Asian Studies. MA TESOL

Taught art in junior high and high school

Taught English to international students - Japan & Pierce College, Lakewood, WA

Retired: 2016

Moved to Grants Pass, OR May 2016

Currently living in Gold Beach, OR

After many years of doing no art at all, when I decided to start painting again, I used found photos as a jumping off point. The first paintings were at least recognizable to the photos I was using. However, through time I began to stray farther and farther from the original. People started turning into animals. People and actions from various photos would combine. Colors, backgrounds, clothing, and locations started transforming. As I was painting, the subjects and compositions started depending less on what I was doing under my control and more on what shapes, patterns and colors that were appearing in front of me.

Perhaps more than anything, what is important to me is the relationships and interactions between the humans and creatures in my paintings. My goal is not to be precise in representation, but to allow the viewers to decide for themselves what they are looking at, and hopefully to elicit a response of humor, curiosity or empathy. I strive for the line between abstract and “something there”.

All paintings are acrylic, often with lines of pastel, crayon and/or graphite.

All my work can be viewed at : www.flickr.com/photos/rwkoch

I can be contacted at: robertkoch31@yahoo.com