2008 Woodie Awards
Artist uses life experiences for pieces
By: Stephanie Covington
Issue date: 3/3/05 Section: Culture
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"My artwork utilizes personal observations and experiences as well as the stories of history... capable of revealing psychological truths that a merely factual account cannot," Deeds wrote in his artist's statement on his Web site.
Deeds spoke at noon Feb. 25 as part of the Art Department's Art Forum. He introduced the audience to a mixture of watercolor, paintings, etchings and wood cuts in a slide presentation.
"Strange things happen that infuse the painting in a way you never expected," Deeds said of an exaggerated painting of him and his girlfriend where he has a third hand choking a chicken.
The exhibit continues through April 1 in the Cecille R. Hunt Gallery.
Most of his work depicts people he has met in his lifetime, though
some works show people he has never met.
"I wanted to make pictures of people," Deeds said.
A signature aspect of his art is that he incorporates his handwriting into almost every piece.
"I once had a professor who said my writing looked too naive," Deeds said.
Since then, Deeds includes some form of writing, whether it be in the painting, a description, title, thought or idea floating across the page.
The collection features pieces of watercolor art, screen and laser print, ink on paper and crayon. A few pieces were made up of several small pieces grouped together to present an almost story book type of narrative.
Deed received his bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1996 from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia. He received a master's in fine arts in 2001 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Deeds taught at Webster during the 2001-2002 academic year. He taught introductory drawing, intermediate drawing, dimensional design and worked with independent study students on print making and painting.