2021 Senior Exhibition Artists

Tyler Molander

Art + Design: Painting

About Tyler Molander

Tyler Molander studies Painting, Animation & Game Arts, and Computer Game Design at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He is interested in understanding how visual information can be exploited to capture and impact the viewer’s attention. In particular, he aims to combine visual principles and game design techniques to develop interactive educational experiences which eliminate common stressors that result from typical learning approaches.

Statement

An artist statement seems to be a general answer to the question “so what’s all this about?” Although this may ultimately be an excuse, the answer is: I do not yet know. Quite simply, my answer to this question changes regularly, often many times throughout the day.

I am studying Painting and Animation/Game-Arts. Due to this, I am constantly finding new interests that create confusing and dramatic attitude shifts. In short, I am often thrown into a sea of conflicting disciplines. There are many elements at play that are constantly changing and influencing each other. I must confess that I cannot wrap my head around it all. Some days I am excited about turning a boring history book into an entertaining animation. Other days I simply want to stare out the window and paint a sunset.

My paintings are primarily the result of learning how to become a painter. These paintings are part of a much larger mission to develop interactive educational digital art. I could also exhibit my work concerning video games, animation, computer programming, digital painting, pixel art, 3d modeling and sculpting, etc., but this would not be an exhibition of my work as a painter.

There is something unique about painting. I am enthralled by the warmth, color, texture, and fun that is possible with a painting. There is a certain magic about it. While painting, one achieves a certain trance-like state. The artist, the materials, and the subject start to become entangled. I often feel close to breaking into a realm filled with I call “the creative force”, where the magic of dreams flows uninhibited. I am still developing my craft, but maybe you can feel a bit of magic in what I have presented here.

I wish to share that magic with you. One day.