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Born in Ashland Kentucky and raised in Basking Ridge New Jersey, Doug has been painting and drawing since he was old enough to hold a pencil. His creativity was sparked at a very young age while attending Arts and Crafts classes sponsored by the YMCA in Plainfield New Jersey. As a youth, his interests included String Art mosaics and Spin Art reminiscent of the 1970’s. His Junior High School commissioned him at the age of 14 to make a 4 x 8 foot String Art Mosaic which hung in the school library for over 20 years.
After serving 10 years in the United States Navy in the 1980's, Doug’s artistic juices began to flow again and in new uncharted directions.
His passion for creating unusual works of art include using materials such as Remnant granite countertop material, jigsaw puzzle pieces and computer keys from computer keyboards.
Since 2007, Doug’s iconic puzzle art portraits have dominated the canvas and have found their way into the world of Ripley’s “Believe It Or Not!” museums from Hollywood, California to Times Square, New York City.
“I create large mosaics on canvas incorporating the use of thousands of random puzzle pieces from hundreds of “Out of the box-as is” jigsaw puzzles. I strive to bring out intense character and personality in every portrait by focusing on painstaking attention to detail right down to the iris of the eye, eye lashes, lips and other defining facial features. My works often take well over 150 hours to complete. There is some semblance to my “Method of madness” in organization. I draw specific puzzle pieces with the required elements from a collection of over a half million jigsaw puzzle pieces. Doug’s creative horizon is now expanding into the world of Abstract Painting using a variety of acrylics as his medium of choice.
Doug continues to explore and evolve in the emerging genre of new media. His art blends traditional and experimental techniques and mediums that result in visually stimulating mixed media paintings that are reminiscent of the Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist movements.
Early portraits include an image inspired by a photo taken by Steve McCurry in 1985 of Sharbat Gula known as the AFGHAN GIRL. The 48” X 48” on canvas contains over 3075 puzzle pieces and took over 150 hours to complete.
The INGRID BERGMAN portrait was inspired by Andy Warhol and contains over 2200 pieces. INGRID is part of the Ripley's "Believe It Or Not!" museum in Hollywood, California. SOPHIA LOREN from the movie Casablancia (1964) is a 48" x 48" on canvas and contains over 3,100 puzzle pieces. SOPHIA is part of the Ripley's "Believe It Or Not!" museum in Hollywood, California.
The LADY GAGA portrait contains almost 3400 puzzle pieces and is also on 48" x 48" canvas. She is coming soon to a Ripley's "Believe It Or Not!" Museum near you!
LADY LIBERTY contains 3600 puzzle pieces and is on display at the Ripley's "Believe It Or Not!" Time Square, New York City Museum.
My work has been on display in the Scott Laurent Collection, Winter Park, Fl (2008) I have done several art shows including Great Day in the Country, Oviedo, Fl, The Villages (2008), Deerfield Beach (2008), Orlando’s Downtown Art & Living Expo (2009), and Walt Disney World Enviro Products & Services Expo (2007).
Commission work is always welcome and I am more than happy to discuss various factors involved with the puzzle art including the subject of the selected image, size, turnaround, Framing, Shipping and pricing.
http://www.Doug-Powell.ArtistWebsites.com
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