Inspired by iconic toys and cartoons over the years, along with my reverence of nature, I conceived the idea to produce whimsical worlds on painted canvas. I use plein air field studies, clay sculptures and studio painting to build a stage for my characters in these natural environments. I further enhance lighting, color and composition through digital design.

Rendering these amorphic clay characters with texture and monolithic proportions allows me to achieve a deliberate contrast to my painterly landscapes. As a result I am able to conjure up these impossible realities that radiate weirdness and positivity. It is my hope that the viewer will feel a connection to this happy amalgam of nostalgia and fantasy.

BFA, Rhode Island School of Design

Ron DeFelice works and lives in Sandy Hook, New York