Aaron Burks Fine Art

      Aaron Burks was born and raised in Long Beach, California. In 1995 at the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy, reporting to his first ship in 1996. Over the next 15 years he served between the U.S. Navy and the Army National Guard, serving in two combat tours as an infantryman, and serving more than 8 years at sea on 3 ships as a Boatswain's Mate. Aaron served on two deployments to the Persian Gulf (known as "West-Pacs"), and various Western Pacific and Southeast Asia operations while forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan with the 7th Fleet. In 2011 he retired from the U.S. Army. Much of his inspiration is drawn from his time at sea as well as from maritime and military history. Aaron received his Bachelor's of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee in 2015. He has shown work in various juried art exhibitions, including Coos Art Museum Annual Maritime Show, Northern California Art League 33rd Annual National Painting Show, and the National Veterans Creative Art Competition.

 

 

Artist Statement

 

        I am fascinated with the sea and with the ships and people that sail on it. In art, the sea has always harbored a romance that is difficult to deny. My artwork tells the story of adversity, survival, fortitude, accomplishment and pride earned by those who have dedicated their lives to sailing on the ocean. I draw my inspiration from my own experiences at sea, current naval events, and from our rich naval and maritime history.

        I am deeply influenced by the masters of maritime art: the Flemish painters of the 17th Century. I strive to emulate their ability to create an image that walks a line between realism and expressiveness that compels the viewer to feel the emotion of the the image while still leaving enough imagination that it is a challenge to come look again. I enjoy exploring symbolism and allegory as well. While sometimes the symbolism or allegory may be lost on those who have not sailed the sea, it is still an invitation to the layman to use their own experiences to fill in the blanks, thus answering questions with their own imaginations.

        Technology has made the world smaller, but to the sailor, it is still very much a large place. The Sea is still an enchanting and cruel mistress, full of adventure and danger. I hope to bring that to you, the Viewer through my art.

 

Aaron Burks

Artist

 

 

 

 

Aaron Burks

311 Hazel St

Gridley, CA 95948

thepaintlocker@gmail.com

(818) 809-7963

www.aaronburksfineart.com

Education

2015    Bachelors of Fine Arts, Studio Arts

            University of Tennessee

2015    Associates of Science

            Jackson State Community College

Group and Juried Exhibitions, and Publications

2018,                      Bold Expressions, Northern California Arts Center, Carmichael, CA

2018,                      33rd Annual Painting Show, Northern California Arts League, Redding, CA

2018,                      25th Annual Maritime Exhibit, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR

2018,                      California State Fair Juried Art Exhibition

2018,                      58th Annual Spring Show, Lodi Community Arts Center, Lodi, CA

2017,                      National Veterans Creative Art Competion, Department of Veterans Affairs

2012, 2013, 2015   Beanswitch Arts Journal

2014, 2015             League of Striving Artists Juried Exhibition, University of Tennessee,

                               Martin, TN.

2014, 2015             Artists of the 21st Century, West Tennessee Regional Arts Center,

                               Humboldt, TN.

2014                       Impressions, Ice House Art Gallery,

                               Mayfield, KY   

Solo Exhibitions

2015    Yuba-Sutter College, Marysville, CA

2016    The Brick, Marysville, CA

2016    Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council Gallery, Marysville, CA

​

Awards

2018     Best of Show, 25th Annual National Painting Juried Show, North Valley Art League, Redding, CA.

​

2018     The Bold Award, Bold Expressions, Northern California Art Center, Carmichael, CA

​

2018     1st Place Painting, Drawing, Butte County Fair, Gridley, CA

​

2018     Award of Merit, California State Fair Juried Art Exhibition, Sacramento, CA

​

2017     2nd Place, Painting, National Veteran's Creative Arts Competition, Department of Veterans                  Affairs

​

Commissions

2018    USS Gerald Ford Chart Drawing, USS Gerald Ford Officer's Wardroom

2017    Out of the Storm (USS Chancellorsville), Michael Tevoliero, Eagle River, AK

2016    Portrait of Sergeant Luna, U.S. Army, Kyle Luna, San Francisco, CA

2016    The Sentinels of the Republic (Mural), Butte County Veterans Memorial Building, Paradise, CA.

2016    George Washington, General of the Armies (Mural), Butte County Veterans Memorial Building, Gridley, CA

2016    Ex Libris, Mr. Richard Hyman, North Carolina. 

2016    The First Shot, USS Paul F. Foster Association

2015     Shipwreck on the Beach, Ms. Krystyna Weircoich, Oakland, CA

2015     Privateer After a Prize, Mr. Ray Brown, Chicago, IL

2014     USS Bunker Hill in Sagami Wan, BM1(SW/AW) Dennis Winters, U.S. Navy,

             Norfolk, VA

 

           

Community Projects

2015-2016       Veterans Initiative in the Arts Project, a California Arts Council and Yuba Sutter Arts Council partnership resulting                            in a “Veterans Art Park” consisting of 7 murals along Highway 70 in Marysville, CA. As a participant, I designed                              and created 3 of the 7 murals.

2016-2018       War History Art Project, an ambitions project consisting of 12 murals on 4x8ft or 4x4ft panels depicting scenes from                          each of the 12 major conflicts our military has engaged in. These murals will be hung in the main hall of the Gridley                          Veteran's Memorial Building in Gridley, CA.