Artist Statement
Scott Clendaniel’s artwork is a synthesis of uplifting content and thought-provoking meditation, with influences as diverse as Roald Dahl and Andy Warhol. New insights are derived from both inspirational symbolism and concrete, iconic imagery. The work is intended to be interpreted directly, as well as through visionary metaphor. The viewer is encouraged to look deeper and find one’s own direct interpretation, and yet still be directed there in a pastoral, understandable route to one’s own understanding of the piece.
Bio
Scott Clendaniel was born in Spokane, WA, and his family moved to Anchorage, Alaska when he was seven. Clendaniel always loved to draw, and shortly after the move, his grandmother gave him an oil painting kit, and told him to paint in Alaska, because it’s such a beautiful place. Clendaniel studied art at Western State Colorado University, and Western Oregon University, and spent a semester in Greece studying art history. He decided to take a break from college, moved back to Anchorage, and accepted a position as a Production Artist, designing Alaska souvenir products. A couple years later he realized that he wanted to be a full time artist, so he quit his job, and started his career as an oil painter. But first he wanted to finish his undergraduate studies, so he enrolled at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in painting.
Now Clendaniel lives in Anchorage with his wife, who is the Business & Marketing Manager for their art business, called Real Art Is Better. The couple spends summers in McCarthy, situated in Wrangell – St. Elias National Park, where they built a log cabin.
Clendaniel's oil paintings are whimsical, colorful and textural. He mostly paints on panel versus canvas, because panel is much more durable. He coats each painting surface with three coats of white primer, sanding between each layer in order to eliminate as much wood texture as possible. Then applies a coat of red, and then a thin layer of gold paint. The red and gold shine through small gaps in the oil paint, making his paintings glow when light hits them at certain angles. This is Clendaniel's signature technique, and one way you can always identify a Clendaniel original.
Many of the artist's paintings are inspired by the astounding natural beauty in Alaska, but his niche is paintings of beer. Clendaniel is a home-brewer and self-proclaimed beer nerd, and enjoys savoring many styles of craft beer. During his travels he often visits breweries and paints live using his travel painting kit. In 2011 Clendaniel completed a series called99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall,which consisted of 99 6”x12” oil paintings of different beers. Then in 2014 he endeavored to paint a new beer painting every single day for a project calledYear of Beer,which sealed his reputation as Alaska's beer artist.
Clendaniel's art is available for sale online at hisEtsy shop – Real Art Is Better,atDos Manos Gallery,in Anchorage, and at his studio by appointment.
The artist acceptscommissions.