Paintings
Nathan’s paintings often explore themes of spiritual awakening and enlightenment, using blooming flowers as a metaphor for personal growth and evolution. He likens the human experience to a seed enduring hardships before it can bloom, emphasizing that pain and struggle are essential for growth, while suffering arises from resisting that growth.
His work is a tribute to the collective human journey through challenges.
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Prints
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Prints
Fine Art giclée prints on archival grade paper
About
Nathan was raised in Southern California, where the bright sunlight and tropical flora significantly influenced his creative expression. He comes from a large family of musicians, designers, and other creatives. The desire for artistic self-expression is something he and his siblings nurtured in each other, often challenging one another through creative competition.
He pursued his studies in Painting and Graphic Design at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, benefiting from the guidance of many excellent instructors. The most notable of these, Arvie Smith, played a crucial role in developing Nathan’s figure drawing skills, helping him establish a distinct visual language that continues to shape his creative process today.
Nathan works in oils on hand-built birch wood panels, utilizing a vibrant palette of bright, saturated colors. The deep browns, yellow ochers, chartreuse greens, and cadmium oranges he utilizes reflect the influences of his upbringing in the 1960s and ’70s. His work nods to Mid-Century Modernism in its shapes, colors, and wallpaper-like patterns. Nathan’s paintings possess an enamel-like quality that is almost devoid of brush strokes, showcasing a tight, clean, and architectural rendering style— no doubt a result of his graphic design training.
The figures in his paintings appear to be in deep contemplation or introspection, mirroring the artist’s own spiritual journey. These beautifully rendered subjects evoke a sense of calm while reminding viewers of the strength and endurance of the African American experience. Nathan’s work is rich with symbolism; he often uses flowers as metaphors for spiritual awakening or enlightenment. His paintings serve as a meditation on embracing adversity and the wisdom that emerges from it.
Nathan’s work has been exhibited in various group shows across Southern California, Atlanta, Vashon Island, Birmingham, Portland, Taos, and Milan, Italy.
Artist’s Statement
“To be beautiful means to be yourself.
You don’t need to be accepted by others.
You need to accept yourself.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
The silk ribbons gently suspending each flower serve as a metaphor for the delicate balance between holding on and letting go. They symbolize the nurturing aspect of spiritual awakening, where the individual is both grounded in their own strength and gently lifted toward their potential. This tender relationship between the flower and ribbon reflects the guidance and care needed as we navigate the complexities of growth and self-discovery.
