FAMILY FICTION
New Oil Paintings by Dug Nap
June 29th - July 27th
Beginning June 29th Frog Hollow Craft Association and Gallery will exhibit “Family Fiction” New Oil paintings by dug Nap. The show captures images of Nap’s imaginary family.
In his new show Family Fiction dug Nap employs his longtime love of storytelling to explore the family model and a desire for a family of his own. Including “a couple of supportive parents, and lots of fun, interesting siblings to hang around with and bother, who would also bother me sometimes if I’m lucky”. In Family Fiction we meet the Radcliffs: the loving mother and psychologist, Angelina (nicknamed Angel because she’s so loving), her smart, artistic husband, Clifford, and their fun, talented children. A staple of the Vermont art scene dug is most recognized for his prints and digital art but chose oil paint as the medium for this project saying, “Oil paint offers a depth of experience for the viewer via its suspension of pigment in the oil, allowing for a radiance that provides a 3 dimensional immersion for the viewer almost as if they’re in theatrical set”.
dug Nap is a self-taught artist who was born and raised in Vermont. He began his career creating large scale paintings on found pieces of plywood, and then worked closely for many years, with Pat Parsons, a Westchester/ Burlington, Vt. art dealer. His work was featured in Group exhibitions at the Outsider Art Fair, and the Frank J Miele Folk Art Gallery- both in New York City- and several of his paintings were in an exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, MD.
dug Nap started drawing when he was eight years old, and he used to love drawing Cowboys with a childhood friend, and for some reason, the cowboys they drew always had big buttocks. Since he’s getting up there in age- and therefore becoming more childlike- dug felt like returning to that early style.
dug Nap prints are sold in 28 shops and galleries around the United states, and his original paintings are in many private collections. dug is also at home with many other mediums, including acrylic, watercolor, gouache and digital paint. Also a storyteller - he’s written and illustrated two graphic novellas, Artsy Fartsy and Friends – and dug’s paintings sometimes include text. While his work can be a bit hard to categorize, they are usually offbeat and thoughtful, colorful, humorous, and occasionally dark reflections of everyday life. He frequently does pet commissions, too, and a few months ago, dug illustrated a children’s book by Benette Whitmore, and they recently signed a contract with a San Francisco Bay Area literary agent.
