aboutGraff
I was born in South Africa and moved to the USA over 30 years ago. Having lived in New York and then San Diego, my wife and I moved to Arizona in 2018. I have two adult children.
I have many sources of inspiration. Throughout my life, I’ve always had the need to be creative whether it be through architecture, graphic design, or furniture design. I am particularly motivated by the element of surprise. I do not aspire to a particular style. I enjoy the freedom of being unrestricted and guided solely by the mood at the moment I apply paint to canvas.
"...the intent of my painting, is to indulge in a freedom of expression..."
Whenever I start a painting if I inadvertently have a preconceived idea of the outcome, I deliberately work on removing those expectations. I discovered, early on, that the intent of my painting, is to indulge in a freedom of expression and not to deliver a self-declared perfect piece of art. Therefore, I am driven by the element of surprise and that approach allows me to be totally non-judgmental throughout the entire process. For me, there is little to zero satisfaction of painting within the confines of expectations. Surprise is true creativity.
I am often intimidated by unchartered blank canvases. I liken the anticipation of the first brush stroke to jumping into an ice bath – extreme hesitation – once in, however, I need to keep moving to stay warm.
Life, in general, inspires my artwork. I have always been an evangelist for positivity. I believe we have abilities to discover the light in the darkness. We often miss amazing opportunities because our “awareness muscles” are not well developed. I try to bring that energy and curiosity to my paintings. It is one of the main reasons I so enjoy abstract painting. Abstract creation continuously changes, infinitely, even after the paintings are complete. I deliberately strive for movement, a little bit of chaos, some calm, and focus.
A parallel to my real life.
"...I deliberately strive for movement a little bit of chaos, some calm and focus.
A parallel to my real life."
I am less influenced by artists than I am inspired.
The artists that I either follow or refer to have compelling life-stories, are typically quite altruistic, and have personal values that I admire. I am also inspired by architects and architecture with an appreciation of their philosophical approach to design and the incredible outcomes. Some of those include Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Frank Gehry. I admire bold non-conformists’ convictions and those who challenge the status quo.
I have multiple artistic challenges. I actually don’t know if I will ever overcome them, but I’ve accepted that fate. I am still building the confidence to declare a painting “complete”. Most importantly, I am learning to respect this journey I have embarked upon. I feel I am incredibly fortunate to be able to immerse myself in creativity but at the same time I am soberly humbled.
There are too many in this world who need our support. If I can make a difference, regardless of the size of the impact, I feel I am fulfilling my earthly purpose. All the proceeds from the sale of my artwork are donated to organizations representing systems in need. Those who purchase my art have an enormous positive impact on kids and animals that are compromised in some form or other.