Wacky Fish, 38 x 29 inches, hand-colored woodcut.
HIS current projects relay that more playful manner, focus-ing
on the designated “adult swim” times he remembers
from his childhood at the pool. These include drink-toting
swimmers floating about without a care in the world.
Much like the carefree swimmers or fish immersed
among a lone subject, he’s had to find that freedom to float within
himself and life in general. While a regimented childhood attempted to
stunt a burgeoning artist, at almost 60 he is taking back his time.
When he’s not teaching printmaking, his days are spent on his farm
with his two dogs. Fresh fruit and vegetables picked from the garden
dictate the subject of the day’s artwork, then later become dinner. His
timeline is now based around the dogs and their needs, or his. He is
allowed to let inspiration strike when it may, even at 3 a.m.
While the printmaking process is intensive, with much skill and var-ious
disciplines required, it’s not so different from how he has had to
view his own life and development. The reflecting back, the creating in
opposite for acceptable transfer, is much like his approach now.
Coyner is a reverse engineer discovering many years later the inner
child that lies beneath, not only in his work and creation but within
himself.
58 august 2021
WBM