My oil paintings are narrative compositions based off perceptions of reality and recollections from my imagination. I distort the subject matter to fit within the dimensions of a canvas to tell my story. My philosophy seems to be most in line with the Expressionist movement, and I therefore call my work Contemporary Expressionism.

Using thin layers of glazes and hatch marks, I employ all six hues in each of my paintings to achieve a unique balance of color and contrast. I work to push the depth of the canvas, giving the illusion of a third dimension on a two-dimensional surface.

Over the years, I have created and cultivated a very personal collection of images such as water, earth, sky, buildings, people, and musical instruments. I am fascinated by their connections to each other; to me; to the canvas. Learning from these relationships has provided me with the insight to initiate suggestions and stories, offering just enough information to allow a viewer's imagination the freedom to interpret it, based on their own experience. I frequently title my work based off pop-culture references, such as a title or passage within a song or a book- this is as close as I come to offering my viewers a glimpse into my thought process. My paintings are intended to be an experience; to provide the viewer with a unique perspective that I, myself, am learning to see better every day.

-Jared Steinberg