Edward Clark, Visiting Artist Lecture 1974

Edward Clark gives a lecture at Skowhegan discussing his practice working across Abstract Expressionist painting, drawing, and printmaking. Clark draws on his biographical experiences as a theme throughout his paintings. Clark goes into detail about his exploration of color, and the influence that living in Paris had on his understanding of color. Being in Paris allowed Clark to create more subtly muted colors, especially grey values, to neutralize color and make them harmonious, and to create an illusion of movement using color. Clark tells the students that they have to come to a point in their use of color and painting where they let go and learn to accept that everything must fall into place. Clark also revisits his drawings, which he considers a parallel aspect of his work to his paintings, particularly his work with pastel. Clark then shares how his transition from figurative to abstract work has allowed him to access his subconscious. In his consciousness, even his figurative work can feel completely abstract. Clark ends his lecture by telling the students how all great artists learn to develop out of circumstances and environments. This is something that has guided Clark, for he has always followed the circumstances that called him most as an artist.