Todd H. Bond, Durham, NC
Member Since June 2007
Artist Statement Art is a sensory experience defined by the feel of my paintbrush stroking the canvas or the smudge of pastel dust into paper. The dual sense of calmness and exhilaration I feel when translating a mere concept into a work of art is unparalleled.
My process of creating art is more than simply replicating an image to paper or canvas, it is a progression of developing and researching ideas and themes, striving to fully comprehend a subject in order to establish a connection that I can translate using different methods and mediums. Visualizing the outcome of the work helps me to match the final look and emotion of the piece to the medium I will use. Though the result often differs from the initial planning, the growth from my mental blueprint to the final piece is a welcomed and challenging experience.
Born in Chicago and raised in Oak Park, Michigan, I began drawing popular characters and comic book heroes that fascinated me as a young boy. My family recognized my gift and encouraged me to draw and paint as often as I could. Preferring oil on canvas, I painted during much of my spare time exploring and learning new ways to express myself through images and colors. In the mid 1980’s during the burgeoning days of hip-hop, I continued to teach myself, drawing and painting images that captured the spirit and energy of the hip-hop genre. The themes I created during my teens and early twenties were courageous and sometimes filled with the emotions felt by many young African-Americans struggling to define their place in the world. Now in my early thirties, my love of music has grown to include blues and jazz, and I often communicate with bold hues and vibrant tones, allowing the colors to convey my emotions to those viewing my work.
Art is my contribution to society and through oil and pastel paintings, and charcoal drawings, I celebrate life as I see and understand it. While I bring to my audience the people, places and things that define life’s joys and sorrows, my true passion lies in creating scenes and images that relate to music and African-American culture.
I have established a company, Through His Brush, that allows me to bring my art to the public, and eventually, I plan to use Through His Brush not only to gain visibility for myself, but also for other aspiring artists.
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