Sculpture | Elk 2
The elk is made of standing dead aspen wood. I select pieces that have a distinctive coloration: bone-colored with streaks of brown, grey and orange. Most of the wood has its original coloration and surface. The antlers have been sculpted down to the interior wood; two logs were center sliced to make the four components. The body and legs have been painted with burnt siena and black abstracting the natural coloration of elk. There is a copper cap on top of the neck piece to protect the end-log from moisture. The whole piece is varnished. This is not a realistic elk, but rather a symbol of an elk. I see plenty of real elk near my cabin in the mountains. They sleep on the lake in the winter and walk through our yard. 64" x 24" x 44" Acrylic on aspen, with copper head cap.
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I am an artist and designer. I create paintings, sculpture, and architectural components. As a designer for a variety of clients, I have worked in numerous materials over the years, from paper, canvas and panel to wood, iron, steel, aluminum, glass and bronze. I am very comfortable with the design process and communicating with my clients so that they achieve what they want.
My oil paintings have covered a variety of subjects over the years from landscape to abstractions. In recent years I have been exploring architecture in my paintings, ranging from structural steel during construction to deco movie theaters in small towns.
My sculpture has been rooted in painted wood abstractions that often include metal found objects, and glyph of my own design.
I have created architectural components both for clients and for myself. My client work has included glyphs in aluminum, bronze, slate, glass, stucco and wood. Work on my own cabin has included trim in natural aspen, window frames with glyphs, and cabinetry in twig and natural aspen.
My training includes not only fine art and its history but also the design traditions of the late nineteenth-century craft movements of Europe and America; the Vienna Werkestette; the early-20th-century modernist movements of Russia, Germany and Holland; and the vernacular architecture in eastern Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia. I also hike a lot in the western U.S., which has shown me first-hand the vernacular architecture of the gold camps and the desert Native Americans. My artistic goal is to synthesize these traditions of formal and vernacular design into a style that expresses the modern west.
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Robert Esteva
For Sculpture | Stroke5.0Working with John was a very positive experience. He quickly replied to any question I asked. I asked him if it would be possible to expedite the shipping date, he quickly agreed. His "artwork" has a mesmerizing quality to it, when I look at it, it draws me towards the various components within the piece. Even though it is an "abstract" piece of work, all the different shapes and colors blend into one in a beautiful manner.
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Dirksen
For Palace5.0My sister in gave me an interesting image of an old movie theater we knew. The image had been constructed with facets. I asked John if he could make a painting similar to this. He said yes but he wanted to give the idea a more exciting structure using a variety of other images. Moving toward this commission we reviewed digital sketches that showed me what the painting would look like. I gave him the go ahead, and he went to work. I even got to see the painting in his studio a couple of times before it was complete. It was a pleasure to be included. He also posted the progressive images on the web as he got closer to completion. Palace now hangs in my dining room and invokes fond memories for me of going to movies with my sister.
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Commissioner
For Castle Valley5.0I am writing to commend the work of John Boak of Boak Art. Recently my wife and I commissioned John to paint an oil painting of a scene outside Aspen, Colorado which was given as a wedding gift. The painting he created was absolutely beautiful and the bride and groom were thrilled with the gift. John’s attention to detail was amazing and the beauty and thoughtfulness he brought to the entire process were exceptional. He truly made every aspect of this process a joy. So as you can see, we recommend John Boak without hesitation. He is a great artist and a great person and his work is a genuine reflection of those values. His work and service is beautiful in every way. Sincerely, DONALD
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Commissioner
For Farview5.0I wanted a round landscape painting and I wanted certain colors: blue, rose reds, yellows and greens. John told me that such a round painting is called a "tondo." He proposed a scene from the mountains of Southwestern Colorado, and I could not be more pleased with the result and, indeed, the whole process of working with John. In fact I was so pleased that I commissioned another painting for my husband, who loves trains; it is also a landscape, from the same part of Colorado, showing an old narrow-gauge line as it crosses the Ophir valley.
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Commissioner
For Lavoir5.0I was on the art advisory team for Jackson National on their new facility in Nashville, TN. Our client requested art that related to that geographical area and we selected John Boak to create a site-specific piece. Working with John is a rewarding experience from start to finish: While always acting with the utmost professionalism, he listened carefully, understood what we wanted and created the perfect work of art for the project.He ingeniously combined the image of a Tennessee landmark with clever allusions to art history and produced a painting that is both visually appealing and intriguing. I highly recommend this artist for custom art. -Maeve
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