Artist Statement
The Exploration of Mark Making I feel the impact of a given object is how it is rendered. An object can be implied by marks. There should be an aspect of the mystical and unknown in how an object is rendered. Give the viewer an object of limited introduction, and then invite the viewer to interact and explore the image. An individual image requires a certain mark, which gives a sense of the essence of the object. By focusing on the act of making marks it allows me to expose the essence of a thing a place or a person. Artists don’t draw a tree; they draw the impression of a tree. A simple line can be monumental in its mastery and simplicity. A drawn line by the artist’s hand is the simplest but the most intimate. The object will change but never the line.
Biography
Scott Lenaway grew up in an industrial town in the Midwest. His passion for art began with traditional oil painting and drawing. His initial professional training at Illinois Central College was in the field of graphic design and fine arts. In 1989, he started at The School Of The Art Institute of Chicago. During his studies there, he was introduced to a wide range of media that greatly influenced his curiosity and vision. The creation of artworks was a part of him during his military deployments to Iraq in 2003 and 2009. In 2005 he attended West Illinois University where he first become passionate about printmaking. The blue-collar aspect of traditional printmaking was just one of the aspects of printmaking that had a profound effect upon his work. This love for printmaking culminated in his acceptance and attainment of a Master of Fine Art Degree at Colorado State University in 2013.
Lenaway’s work has an industrial and historical element in it-a product of his early background and military experiences. He is influenced by traditional principles and elements of design. His curiosity for new ideas and methods has also been a part of his artistic development. His confident, curious and sovereign way he conducts himself and by the integrity of his work in printmaking. This artist has a workmanlike focus in the creation of his work.
Throughout his artistic and professional developments, he has received various awards, and many awards from Western Illinois University and Colorado State University. Additional his work has been included in private and public collections. He has participated in community-based projects and has taught several workshops. He developed a program for the homeless called “New Beginnings” which was a outreach program to teach art to the homeless in an effort to facilitate personal growth and development within the community.