In this series of paintings and collages, I present the viewer with dystopian scenes. I draw inspiration from science fiction films and novels. Just as movies and books tell stories, my pictorial work pieces together a fractured narrative.

“Picturing Tomorrow” utilizes photographs found in magazines, brochures and art catalogs. These fragmented source materials serve as ingredients for painting as well as stand alone collages. One goal is to create scenes that are exotic yet familiar. The pictures are never fully planned. Materials guide the path of each composition. Collage works focus on environments while the paintings give the viewer a closer look at the inhabitants of a future world.

The images are fantastic while addressing real world concerns. Like many science fiction fanatics, I am obsessed with the consequence of human action. Fractured skies and jagged buildings seen in my collages suggest a struggle between man and nature. Painted figures are engulfed by their environments. Many figures are pieced together from odd clothing with visible seams between body parts suggesting a dormant insanity within us. Now, we are unable to see it but when the wheel breaks loose the distortion becomes the norm. It is a bleak outlook on the future but I expect the viewer to discover beauty in the scenes.

Carer
10″x15″
Gouache and water color on paper.
2012

Daybreak
16″x32″
Oil on canvas.
2012

One Percent
30″x40″
Oil on canvas.
2012

The Museum
30″x48″
Oil on canvas.
2013

Meat Jacket
48″x30″
Oil on canvas.
2013

Sounds of Thunder
36″x45″
Oil on canvas.
2013

Hello aspiring artists!

I am currently offering private tutorials in drawing, painting (oil, acrylic and water based media), collage and image transfer in my studio in Alameda. Ages 12 to adult, beginning to intermediate skill levels, are welcome. My rate is $20/hour with discounts for students who want to make a longer commitment. Tutorials will be held at Autobody Fine Art, 1517 Park St., Alameda. Each session will be tailored to your schedule and artistic endeavors.

Email or call to book a session. See you at the studio!

Raymond

raywongwc@gmail.com

650 224 4383

Selected Student Work

Intermediate drawing student, colored pencil on toned paper (Adult).

Middle School Student, Election day 2012 poster, 2-hour session, Tempera on construction paper (age 12). Instructor: Raymond Wong

Beginning oil painting student,Van Gogh reproduction, 3-hour session, oil on canvas board (Age 17), Instructor: Raymond Wong.

Beginning collage student, 3-hour session, Personal narrative collage (Adult), Instructor: Raymond Wong.

Demo pieces. Semi-transparent image transfers.

About
Raymond Wong studied fine arts at CSU East Bay and graduated with a BFA in 2007. He draws inspiration from science fiction films and novels. His work has been shown at the LoBot Gallery, Oakland and the Asian Art Museum as part of the Matcha: Taking up Space event. From 2010-2012, Wong was a resident artist at Root Division, a community arts and education organization in San Francisco. He currently maintains his art practice at Autobody Fine Art in Alameda.

Curriculum Vitae

In my series of collages, I present the viewer with dystopian landscapes. I draw inspiration from science fiction films and novels. Just as movies and books tell stories, I aim to create a narrative with my pictorial work.

The works in my current series are comprised of found photographs from magazines, brochures and art catalogs. One goal is to create scenes that are exotic yet  familiar. The mechanical structures seen in my collages are assembled with cut photographs of Korean palaces from the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). I am interested in how these ancient palaces can be made to look futuristic or timeless by reconstructing them piece by piece. The pictures are never fully planned. Materials guide the path of each composition.

The images are fantastic while addressing real world concerns. Like many science fiction fanatics, I am obsessed with the consequence of human action. Fractured skies and jagged buildings seen in my collages suggest a struggle between man and nature. It is a bleak outlook on the future but I expect the viewer to discover beauty in the scenes.

Distant Sun
18″X13″
Collage and Acrylic on Illustration Board
2013

Colony 2
10″X13″
Collage and Acrylic on Illustration Board.
2013

Quantifier
15″X14″
Collage on Illustration Board.
2012

Barrier
13″X9″
Collage and Acrylic on Paper.
2012

Fall
10″X15″
Collage and Acrylic on Paper.
2012

Winter
10″X13″
Collage and Acrylic on Paper.
2012

Roots
13″X9″
Collage and Acrylic on Paper.
2011

Colony
10″X13″
Collage and Acrylic on Paper.
2011

Town
9″X13″
Collage and Acrylic on Paper.
2011

In October of last year, I was hired to paint a portrait of Ron Conway, a successful Silicon Valley investor. Artist, Elizabeth Cayne, connected me with people from the Emerson Collective, Palo Alto. The Emerson Collective, a non-profit that supports social entrepreneurs and others in education, social justice and conservation, was founded by Laurene Powell Jobs (widow of Steve Jobs).

My clients gave a photograph by Cody Pickens to work from. Upon looking at the photograph I decided that a darker more earthy toned background would be better for the painting. One request by my clients was that painting should look like a 19th century portrait. I also looked at a number of other photos of Ron Conway to gain a better understanding of his features. It would have been ideal to take the reference photos myself but this portrait was to be a surprise gift and there were time constraints.

I had to adjust my way of working a bit because I had not been in the habit of making flattering portraits. Most of my figurative works bring out the figure’s vulnerabilities and are also looser in style. By contrast, I feel that the Ron Conway portrait displays boldness and strength. It is also monumental; literally larger than life. I also feel that seriousness in Conway’s face sells the humor of the image.

I recently saw the short writeup about the painting on TechCrunch.com (
http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/14/ron-conway-the-painting/
). Judging from the photos, Conway seemed to like the painting so I guess it was a success!

The portrait was nearly complete at this stage. I ended up adding warmer tones to the face and diminishing some of the finer lines. I forgot to tell the people at the Emerson Collective that my favorite artist is Lucian Freud.

I was able to visit two museums on Thursday, December 20th: The Cartoon Art Museum and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I saw some awesome puppets, a bull’s head in formaldehyde, and a painting by Jay DeFeo that took eight years to complete.  What a great way to spend end-of-the-world eve!

Actual puppets from ParaNorman!

Actual puppets from ParaNorman!

A bunch of mouths. Too much to draw.

The Jenny Saville painting was at least ten feet tall. Damien Hirst’s piece was on floor.

John Currin’s Laughing Nude, 1998 and Jay DeFeo’s Cygnus, 1975.

Sketches from Black Friday.

Woman surrounded by dogs, 1979-1980 (sideways) and figure detail of an untitled piece.

Portrait of the artist as an old man, 1984 also titled Portrait of a “pervy guy” by a SJMA visitor.

Krefeld Project Living Room, Scene # 4, 2002 (detail).

Study for the chair, The Bed, Getting Ready, 2000 (detail).