My Top Four Most Inspirational Contemporary Artists

All artists draw their inspiration from somewhere.  As a student, the artist is often inexplicably drawn to a particular painter, technique or genre that suits his personality.  For me, it is the abstract expressionists and impressionists.  Some of the following artists are almost as good as I am.  I'm just saying.

 [Left: "Mist" by Dave Clark. Buy abstract expressionist paintings at www.daveclark.etsy.com]

In no particular order:

Jackson Pollock  One of the most revered and misunderstood of the abstract expressionists, Pollock pioneered unique drip painting and action painting techniques.  The influence of Pollock's highly expressive style and use of impasto (3D media) is easily seen in the majority of my work.  

Claude Monet  A master of plein air painting (painting outdoors), Monet is famous for his dream-like country landscapes and chaotic, lively urban scenes.  Obsessed with light, he would often paint the same location over and over, capturing the fickle dance of color and shadow throughout the day.

Mark Rothko  Reducing color and shape to a brilliant simplicity, Rothko's work is bold and introspective.  His multiform paintings (what came to be his signature style) greatly influence my landscape works.  One can't help but wonder what he was thinking as he painted these luminous masterpieces.

Vincent Van Gogh  Arguably as famous for his mental illness as his paintings, Van Gogh remains a mysterious, enigmatic personae.  Technically classified as a post-impressionist, his work clearly contains expressionist undertones, as seen in his still life example, "Sunflowers."