AN ARTIST MAKES A STATEMENT:

It was never my intention to be an artist. But I read "Lust for Life." The idea of drawing naked females was of great interest to me. Besides I had no marketable skills so I took the vow of poverty and became an artist.

Having said that, I must note that my first life career choice was acting. My problem was that I don't work well with other people. I solved one problem with my camera. Females would without hesitation pose nude. I played to their vanity. So far my career has been uneventful. But when you consider I am 82 and still producing great works of art, things have not been all that bad.

(written on a 2004 painting)





I paint figuratively with a non-objective approach.

When I visit old friends and see my early work, I am always surprised by what I did 30 or so years ago. A part of the surprise is how similar my current work is to what I have done in the past. My technique is more developed, but my subject matter has not changed that much. I am still involved with the figure and my work usually has strong sexual overtones.





I do not draw on nature for my inspiration. My art is conceived in the studio. I do not use models. I paint with my canvas stretched and stapled to the studio wall. As soon as I finish a painting, I photograph it. Putting the canvas on a stretcher comes last.





I find it difficult to discuss my work. I know I have strong feelings about religion, sex, love, government and justice. Since all things are subjective, these elements vary depending on what I happen to be doing at the moment.


- Snell



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