I see painting as both a way of exploring the world and then as the vehicle of sharing those discoveries with others. I travel to find subjects to paint as much as paint so I can travel and expand my horizons. Through this unique language, one can say things that are impossible with words.
Scott was born in Chicago, where his mother and father early on encouraged his interest in Art. "I spent a lot of time in hospitals as a child and remember my mother showing me how to transform simple shapes like circles, triangles, and squares into objects like planes, helicopters, and fish. It seemed such a magical thing and made spending so much time in casts and on crutches much more bearable."
In high school, Scott began taking life-drawing classes at the American Academy of Art under the legendary Bill Parks. "Though I'd always loved drawing, it was Mr. Parks who filled me with the enthusiasm and discipline necessary to improve my skills. His love of painting and creative expression infected us all." After finishing the Academy, Scott continued his study at the Palette and Chisel Art club, where he met his wife, painter Susan Lyon. "It's a wonderful thing being able to paint together all the time and grow as artists together," Scott says.
His ideas for paintings come from everywhere. "What makes a subject attractive to me are the same things that attract us all. The beauty of a young girl, the character of a weathered face, the solitude of a farm at sunset, or even the story itself behind someone or something that makes it interesting." Scott believes it is the job of the artist to recognize this when it happens, analyze why, and use his technical skills to convey the feeling to someone else. He notes that some paintings are as simple as stopping at the sight of something interesting, while others may take more time to research than to actually paint.
Today, Scott and Susan live in a rural area of North Carolina.
1990 April U.S. Art - Private Showing Page
1993 January American Artist - Feature
1994 Jan/Feb Art of the West - Feature
1994 Nov/Dec InformArt - Feature
1997 Spring Watercolor Magic - Feature and Cover
1997 Fall The Artist's Magazine - Feature and Cover
1997 November Art Talk - Feature and Cover
1998 Jul/Aug Art of the West - Feature
1998 June Southwest Art - part of group article
2000 International Artist - feature article "Painting in the Forbidden City"
2000 Southwest Art - part of group article on Plein Air Painting
2001 International Artist - part of group article on Plein Air Painting
2001 The Artist's Magazine - part of article on Portfolio Alternatives
2001 October issue, The Artist's Magazine - feature article and cover
2002 U.S. Art, January - group article on artist couples
2002 Art Talk, June/July - group article on artist couples
2002 Artist's Sketchbook, September - feature article on Nepal trip
2002 American Artist, September - feature and cover
2003 January SouthwestArt - feature
2003 Artist's Sketchbook, January - page on the creative process
2003 Watercolor Magic, February - part of a group article
2003 Artist's Sketchbook, July - part of a group article
2004 Art of the West, Jan/Feb - "Magnificent Seven" article
2005 Plein Air Magazine, Feb - feature article
2006 Southwest Art August- Dispatches Painting in France
2007 American Artist - October - cover and part of a group article.
2008 British Edition The Artist - May - Portraits Taking Shape
2011 Southwest Art Magazine June "Drawing out the Best"
2012 Southwest Art Magazine April Cover and article" Ten Prominent People"
2013 Southwest art Magazine, January "The Artists Studio"
2015 Pratique des Arts , French magazine April/May 2015
2018 Southwest Art Magazine, March Cover and article "The ties that Bind"
1988 Top 100 - Arts for the Parks
1992 Senator Martin J. Butler Award - Oil Painters of America
1993 Charles Vickery Award - Oil Painters of America
1994 Grumbacher Art Award - Oil Painters of America
1994 Top 200 - Arts for the Parks
1996 Silver Medal of Honor - Second Place American Watercolor Society
1996 Award of Excellence - Oil Painters of America
1999 Artist choice award – Laguna Plein Air Painting Invitational
2001 Artist Choice award – Western Rendezvous of Art, Helena, Mt
2002 Artist Choice award – Western Rendezvous of Art, Helena, Mt
2003 Grand Prize – International 1996 Artist Magazine – Portrait/Figure completion
2003 Artist choice award Laguna Plein Air Painting Invitational
2007 Artist Choice award – Western Rendezvous of Art, Helena, Mt
2010 First Place – Portrait Society of America Competition
2011 Finalist – Portrait Society of America completion
2015 Buyers Choice Award – Prix de West Show
