I had the pleasure of helping hang Tim Massey’s current exhibition of illustrations at the University of Rochester’s Art and Music Library gallery. This allowed me to look closely and study his mark making techniques that are full of delightful details.

As a lover of nature and a dog lover, his illustrations of plant life and dogs showed his emotional and personal interest in these forms. These are “two prime examples of what “we as humans have tried to control trough domestication, breeding, grafting, etc,” Massey says in his artist’s statement. His work is about this control, or lack of control.

Especially apparent in his illustration containing dogs, is is realization that animals have animal instincts even though they may be completely loyal to us. The tenuous balance between wildness and domesticity can be seen in his illustrations.

His illustration titled “reassured” I found on his website is a good example of this tenuous balance. The man’s calming hand reaches out to the dog to ‘reassure’ him.

"Reassured" by Tim Massey

Tim is another artist who’s use of layering of marks and images is inspirational to me. His techniques is masterful as he overlaps values and tones of imagery. I simply loved exploring his beautiful illustrations and aesthetic!

If you have the opportunity to see his work at the Art & Music library you will be sure to enjoy it too! Tim is currently Assistant Professor of Art and Gallery Director at SUNY College
at Brockport, Brockport, New York. Some other examples of his work can be seen at:

www2.pittstate.edu/art/harrykruggal/TMassey/