"Revealing The Soul - Painting From The Inside Out"

Picasso said,
“Painting is stronger than I am. It makes me do what it wishes.”

Capturing the soul, or essence and energy of the landscape is a challenge. Painting what you see and feel at the same time is like walking the fence. If you fall one way you have what everyone sees, if you fall the other way you have what everyone feels. Therefore you must stay on the edge of the fence.

I am fascinated by the Florida landscape and strive to paint it in a different way than any other artist. While I stay on the edge of the fence, I can still create images that are representational but have the essence of mystery and excitement that reality does not permit some imaginations to perceive. In essence I try and create an image that can be seen by the soul.

I have had good horses, so I was fortunate enough that I could go into areas that most people cannot reach, especially in summer when the water levels were high. Riding through creeks and swamps that four wheel ATV's cannot navigate, what I have seen is so stunning it forces you to think about Florida's past and future while you are in its midst.

I have taken pictures from the saddle, by boat and motorcycle trips throughout the State of Florida and worked in my studio to bring out the energy and real mystical expressionism in the Florida landscape.

There is underlying warmth and mystery in the landscape of Florida. If we don't clean up the litter and debris from dumping, as well as stopping it altogether, and we allow the bulldozer to ravage the state for development, draining our water supply, we will watch this all disappear in our lifetime. More of the state needs to be protected for future generations, and it needs to be done now before it's too late.

I have painted many styles and am influenced by many artists throughout the history of modern art as well as the ancient cultures that have come before us. I cannot think of anything more intriguing to paint than the soul of the landscape, out loud.


- Gary Borse


Biography

Gary’s solo exhibit of twenty eight large paintings, “Revealing The Soul: Painting From The Inside Out”, was shown in the spring of 2007, in the State Capitol Building, in Tallahassee, Florida. Many of the paintings in the exhibit have won awards, and appeared in the book, “The Best Artists and Artisans of Florida 2006".

Over the years his work has appeared in public art, museums, books, on magazine covers, exhibit announcement postcards, event posters and numerous magazine and newspaper articles.
Gary was commissioned by the Florida International Festival 2007, in Daytona Beach, to create the 2007 festival poster for the London Symphony Orchestra. He has participated in many invitational, juried, and solo exhibits in museums, art centers and galleries, as well as plein air paintouts, throughout the State of Florida. Other exhibits include the Florida Natural History Museum, where his solo exhibit "The Soul of the Florida Landscape", was shown from June through November 2007. He was included in the Boca Raton Museum of Art's “56th and 57th Annual All Florida Exhibits” in 2007 and 2008. He participated in "The Heart Of Florida Paintout 2008" in Gainesville, FL., Open Air Arts 2009, and 2010, in Melrose and his work was featured on the cover of the 2009 event guide. All featured artists contributed to the Conservation Trust for Florida, The Alachua Conservation Trust, and the Putnam County Environmental Council, in those regional paintout events. Exhibits in 2009 included The Art Center Sarasota invitational exhibit, "Seeing Florida: Florida Environmental Artists", "Native to Florida" at The Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, and a solo exhibit at the Melrose Bay Art Gallery in Melrose, FL. Exhibits in 2010 include a solo exhibit at the Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando, FL, an invitational exhibit at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, in New Smyrna Beach, FL, and the Best of Florida Artists Registry in Orlando, FL. Exhibits in 2011 include an invitational exhibit at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum, in Ormond Beach, Fl, The Best of Florida Artists Registry, Orlando, and "Mistaken Identity", created for the Horsefever Tenth Anniversary, Ocala, FL.

He has created public art as well as participated in fund raising activities, such as painting a violin for the Florida Orchestra and Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. He has supported and works with The Conservation Trust for Florida, The Alachua Conservation Trust, and the Putnam County Environmental Council, in their efforts to save land from the developers, for the future generations in Florida. His articles on local and Florida environmental issues have been published in the newspapers. Upon the opening of his solo exhibit in 2004, the Gainesville Sun labeled Gary “a local treasure”.

Many works are included in the State of Florida Permanent Art Collection, The University of Florida Collection, The Geiger-Percy Florida Collection, The Kwik King Corporate collection and many other prestigious private and corporate art collections nationwide. He is represented by Fine Art Galleries, Interior Designers (ASID), and Art Consultants throughout the Southeast United States. The Museum Store at the Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville, Florida, has original works as well as limited edition prints of works available for purchase.

Gary was born in 1950 and has an Associates Degree in Commercial Art and Design from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. The Art Institute of Chicago played a vital role in his study and influences of Contemporary American and European Modern Art. He is also an accomplished musician, having performed rock, jazz and blues as a bassist and vocalist throughout his life.

His studio and farm are in Reddick, Florida, where he raised cattle and rode his horses for over two decades.

Commissions are always welcome. For a complete list of available original works, limted edition prints, or full resume and bibliography, please e mail or write:

Gary Borse
P.O. Box 914
Fairfield, FL 32634




Galleries and Affiliations


The Harn Museum of Art, Gainesville, FL
The Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
Onessimo Fine Art, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Lombard Contemporary Art, Orlando, FL
Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Ormond Beach, FL
H. Allen Holmes, Jupiter, FL
Artblend, Ft Lauderdale, FL
The Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Stellers Gallery, Ponte Vedra, FL
530 Burns Gallery, Sarasota, FL
Plum Contemporary Gallery, St Augustine, FL
Hollingsworth Gallery, Palm Coast, FL
The Icehouse Gallery, McIntosh, FL
The High Springs Gallery, High Springs, FL
Katherine Gibson Art Consulting, Tampa, FL
Raleigh Design, Orlando, FL
Melrose Bay Art Gallery, Melrose, FL
Bellamy Road Fine Arts, Melrose, FL
Thomas Center Galleries, Gainesville, FL
The Webber Center, Ocala, FL
Brick City Center For The Arts, Ocala, FL
CFCC, Ocala, FL
Marion Cultural Alliance, Ocala, FL
Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL
Florida International Festival, Daytona, FL
The Florida Orchestra, TBPAC, Tampa, FL
Artists Alliance of North Florida, Gainesville, FL
Florida's Eden, Gainesville, FL
Gibran Fine Art, Deland, FL
The Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York, NY
Tyson Trading, Micanopy, FL
A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery, Fort Pierce, FL
Micanopy Council for the Arts, Micanopy, FL
St Augustine Art Gallery, St Augustine, FL
Cheuvront Studios, Gainesville, FL
The Cofrin Art Center Gallery, Gainesville, FL
The Windmill Gallery, McIntosh, FL
Serious Studios, Miami, FL
The Conservation Trust of Florida, Micanopy, FL
The Alachua Conservation Trust, Gainesville, FL
The Putnam County Environmental Council, Interlachen, FL