Working with radiantly rich hues and luminescent neons, R. Porter Finch creates a visual impression of the mystical. In the varied, experimental mark of his abstractions there is an exploration of the psyche, a vision of the eternal and internal spirit. The florescent string art and traditional dress of the Huichol tribe neighboring his rustic studio home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as well as their ritualized use of peyote to access the spirit world and heal mental illness, fascinated Finch and became an important influence in his works. Submitting to the vibrancy and energy of his acrylic paints, Finch allows himself to experience the pure joy of his mediums in a style which has been called mystical impressionism. Spirituality is at the heart of all that Finch creates and he has devoted much of his life to the study of a course in Miracles.
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Finch studied with the Sorbonne in Paris and Rhodes College.
I believe that paint in and of itself is a joy and to be able to use this material to portray a message is ecstasy for me. As an abstract contemporary painter, it is all about feeling and emotion or the lack thereof. Line, shape, form and color are manifestations of these states of being. It is a total experience for me. The experience is spontaneous, an event driven by Spirit in its purest form. My mission is to enjoy my work and share that joy with others, all the while exhibiting both decorative art and psychological art dealing with darkness and light, death and resurrection, good and bad, and subsequently the influences of religion, spirituality and psychology in our ever-evolving world/universe.
