BIO
Art has extraordinary power and it helps us all respect and appreciate our differences as well as our similarities. In African cultures art is viewed as an essential part of the community and always provide occasions for people to come together. It's difficult to generalize about the direction I wish to take with my art. But if my creations can somehow brings us together, enrich our lives, or help us understand each other, then I am rewarded and its purpose has been fulfilled.
EVERETTS' PROFILE
Everett Spruill was born in Birmingham, Alabama. After attending High School at George Washington Carver, in Birmingham, Everett went to Berea College in Kentucky, where he majored in business. Everett was exposed to museums, and classical music at an early age and would prove to have a great influence on his artistic development. "I really enjoyed mechanical drawing classes and wood working projects as a kid. I also had an ear for music so mom insisted I have voice and piano lessons".
For more than 20 years Everett, a self-taught artist, has been involved in collecting and creating works of art. He currently conducts art workshops for Central Florida youth and is former owner of The Ethnic Art Gallery, Orlando, Florida.
Everett advocates the necessity of art to enrich our lives and firmly believes the arts help us all become well -rounded and constructive individuals. Everett is most known for his early collages and works on paper, notably, his "Old School Jazz and Blues Series", which feature colorful images of the fathers and legends of our own American art form known as Jazz. After graduating from Berea College and working as a Hotel Manager until 1989, Everett began his career as a full time professional artist. Everett is influenced by American Artists Arthur Rayford, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence Elizabeth Catlett, Charles White and Frank Stella to name a few.
As a mid career artist Everett explores his personal world of contemporary aesthetics and culture. He creates a dialogue with the viewers of his ethnically inspired images using his own mixed media visual language. Spruill creates images in bold colors, using a variety of mediums. His images are ethereal, thought provoking and spiritual as they illustrate his Afro-centric visions.
Spruill communicates his unique artistic language through the use of intense color and rich surface textures. The image is further enhanced with African inspired patterns, and hand written social commentary to further communicate with the viewer.
Paint, photos, various types of hand-made paper, layers of glazes, watercolor, pen and ink, pastel and charcoal, to name a few, are Everetts’ tools for conversing with the viewer. Extensive use of airbrushed-hand cut stencils, African textiles shells and symbols further enhance his visual language.
These elements transform the pictorial image into a work of art that has true meaning while transforming the canvas into a rich opulent surface that invites the viewer to take a closer look.
Spruill, also an innovative printmaker, transforms his original mixed media collages into unique original graphics. The results are evident to the viewer, as he adeptly creates images using a process he invented using elements of serigraphy.
Everett accepts both public and private commissions and his work is in corporate and private collections worldwide.
EVERETTS' STATEMENT
"My creations have been categorized as Contemporary / Abstract Mixed Media Collages. I have three styles and use a wide variety of found objects, including, but not limited to, shells, magazine pages, tissue, postage stamps, various paint mediums, photographs, cut and torn hand-painted paper, air-brushed hand-cut silk-screens, drawings, and computer manipulated images. Central themes for my creations are centered on Music (Jazz and Blues), African Cultures and the African-American Experience, and most of all “Family”.As a self-taught artist my techniques are the result of extensive experimentation but mostly from studying works of great contemporary masters. I focus on the importance of drawing, composition, tone and mixing colors in each creation. Coupled with my own sense of color and design I developed my own distinctive styles."
"Most of my creations begin with photographs or several thumbnail sketches. Harmony and contrast are important qualities I want in my work and it becomes even more important in the works I call “Intuitive Creation” (Mindscapes, Tribal Rhythms and Middle Passages Series) because these images are created mainly by letting go of conscience thoughts and relying more on instinct. Because the steps are intuitive and emotional rather than cognitive, many times the exact processes are forgotten, the end result is therefore difficult to repeat. Nevertheless, I’m satisfied with a completed work when it consist of the all important variables of line, shape, color, texture, repetition, and balance."
"The creative processes for my “Intuitive Creations” follow a number of steps. I use gloss varnish to adhere drawings, photos, postage stamps or torn and cut paper to the substrate. Transparent tissue is applied partially covering and connecting the first images. Using a wet-on-wet technique, watercolor and acrylic washes and lines (mostly primary colors) are applied, allowing colors to run, and partially covering and connecting the adhered images into a harmonious unit." "To create textural effects, clear acrylic gel is applied by knife and scored or scraped into patterns. I then Airbrush through several hand cut stencils to apply opaque symbols and designs that will unite the composition. Accents and highlights are added with splattered and dripped acrylic paint. These steps are not always followed in this order, and some may not include all the elements mentioned."
My representational images (Jazz and Blues and Family series) include combinations of the same techniques, materials and processes mentioned previously, however, the central figure begins with a drawing, usually from photos. Paper, fabric or photos are cut to form the various sections of the image and or background and are assembeled together like a puzzle." "I work only on archival acid-free mat boards, watercolor paper, and canvas. Hardwood panels are sometimes used for smaller images and are triple primed and sealed with stain resistant varnish to prevent yellowing from the acids in the wood. Permanence and longevity are a major concern, every effort is taken to best preserve and protect the work by using archival paints (non-toxic) and substrates free of materials that shorten the life of the work. Each work is protected front and back first with mat varnish and finally with a gloss acrylic varnish.
EXHIBITS - AWARDS - PUBLICATIONS - COMMISSIONS - DONATIONS
1. Commission- 1998 University of Central Florida - Diversity Poster.
2. Commission- February 1998 Walt Disney Worlds Black Heritage Poster
3. Commission- February 1997 Walt Disney Worlds Black History Poster
4. Commission- October 1997 Disney’s Pleasure Island Jazz Festival Poster5. Commission- March 1997 Lucent Technologies Annual Conference Logo Design.
6. Commission- 1997 UCF McKnight Center, Program/Poster Design.
8. Commission- 1993 Mural Design-City of New Smyrna Beach- Babe James Center.
9. Commission- 1993 Mural Design- Orlando Fights Back-Ethnic Art Gallery Community Mural Project
10. Commission - 1995 Mural Project -Evans High 9th Grade Campus.
11. Publication - 2000 January Issue, Black Enterprise Magazine - 2000 Calender Sponsored by Walt Disney World Resorts.
12. Publication- 1999 Featured Artist-Channel 21- Community Forum,13. Publication- 1999 Winter Issue, O Arts Magazine-“The State of Black Art” - Featured Artist.
14. Publication- October 1999 Issue, Black Family Today Magazine-Featured Artist.
15. Publication- 1998 Atlanta Black Arts Festival Souvenir Book, Design for Walt Disney Resorts Advertisement.
16. Publication- December 1995 Issue, Black Family Today Magazine- “The Art Around Us”- Featured Artist.
17. Publication- December 1996 Issue, Black Family Today Magazine- Featured Artist.
18. Publication- March 1999 Issue, Black Family Today Magazine-Featured Artist.
19. Juried Exhibition- 2000 Zora Hurston Festival of Arts,Eatonville, Fl.
20. Juried Exhibition- 1999 Zora Hurston Festival of Arts, Eatonville, Fl.
21. Exhibition- October 1998 National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta Ga.
22. Exhibition- One Man Show - December 1999 Eatonville Town Hall, Eatonville, Fl.
23. Juried Exhibition- 1997 Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee, Fl.
24. Exhibition- 1995 Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, Fl- Art After Dark "An Exploration of Ethnic Art".
25. Juried Exhibition- 1994 Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee, Fl.
26. Juried Exhibition- 1993 Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Bch,Fl.
27. Juried Exhibition- 1992 Zora Hurston Museum of Art, Eatonville, Fl.
28. Publication- Dec.2000 - Jan.2001 Music Issue ,O! Arts Magazine- "Cover and article illustration"- O-Town Jazz.
29. Commission- 2002 Designed Mentors Award - Central Florida YMCA
30. Exhibition- 2002 Best of Show Award - Devereux Annual Arts Festival Orlando, Florida
31. Commission 2001 - YMCA 150th Anniversary Poster Design- Miami-Dade County, Florida
32. Commission 2003 Harambee Poster Design & Book Cover
Central Florida YMCA - Y Achievers Program
33. Exhibition- 2002 Epcot Annual Food & Wine Festival- Walt Disney World, Florida
34. Exhibition- 2003 Epcot Black Heritage Celebration- Walt Disney World, Florida
35. Exhibition- One Man Show - March 2003 Wells’Built Museum of African American History & Culture, “The Inventors of Jazz” Orlando, Florida
37. Commission - 2004 “B.ONE” Jazz Band of Orlando, FL.- Debut CD cover design.
38. Exhibition- 2004 One Man Show - Steinway Piano Gallery - “The Spice of Life”- Recent Works by Everett Spruill
39. Exhibition - 2005 Orlando City Hall - " Journey through Obstacles".
40. Juried Exhibition - 2005 Celebration Spring Art Festival, Celebration, FL
41. Juried Exhibition - 2005 Maitland Art Festival, Maitland, FL
42. Juried Exhibition - 2006 Lakeridge Winery Art Show, Clermont, FL
43. Juried Exhibition - 2006 Sunfest Fine Art Festival, West Palm Beach, FL
44. Publication - 2006 Onyx Magazine- Featured Artist
45. Exhibition/Lecture - One Man Show - June 2006 Webster University, Orlando, FL
46. Exhibition - 2006 Casselberry City Hall, "Artists of African Descent" Casselberry, FL
47. Juried Exhibition -2006 Award of Merit- 20th Annual Lake Mary- Heathrow Festival of the Arts, Lake Mary, FL
48. Juried Exhibition - 2006 Deland Fall Festival of the Arts, Deland, FL
49. Commission - 2006 City of Casselberry Jazz and Art Festival Poster.
50. Publication - January 8th 2007 Orlando Sentinel Featured Profile, "Artful Soul" written by Darryl Owens
51.Exhibition - January 2007 Orlando City Hall- "The African American Perspective"
52. Exhibition - February 2007 City Arts Factory - "Aspirations of the Human Spirit", Orlando
53. Award - February 2007 NBA Orlando Magic Hometown Hero
54. Exhibition - February 2007 Creative Spirit Art Gallery - "Jazz Menagerie", Orlando
55. Exhibition - March 2007 - Zulu Exclusive Art Gallery - Orlando, FL
56. Juried Exhibition - March 2007 - Volkswagen Central Park Art Fest, Winter Haven, FL
57. Juried Exhibition - March 2007 - Celebration Spring Art Festival, Celebration, FL
58. Exhibition - One Man Show - May 2007 - Steinway Art Gallery - Altamonte Springs, FL
59. Juried Exhibition - May 2007 - Award of Merit - Sunfest Art Festival - West Palm Beach FL
60. Exhibition - One Man Show - June 2007 - Gallery at Avalon Island - "Tribute to Black Music Month" - Orlando, FL
61. Commission - July 2007 - City of Orlando - Art Director of Parramore Heritage Community Murals at the Callahan Neighborhood Center and Downtown Recreation Center. Orlando FL.
62. Publication - August 2007 Windermere Lifestyle Magazine - Community - "Motivating Youth & Making Murals" an article by Amanda Norvell and Josh Garrick.
63. Exhibition - March - December 2007 - Johnsons Diner - Orlando FL
64. Donation - December 2007 - Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association - Orlando, FL
65. Exhibition – Black Artist Group Show – January 2008 – City Arts Factory
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