Bay Area artist Joe West is a proud promoter and sponsor of ArtSpan, producers of San Francisco Open Studios and Art for Inner City Youth.
Proceeds from his art goes to support Art for Inner City Youth.

ARTIST STATEMENT: My first inspiration to paint came from my awe and fascination of abstract expressionist artists. Paintings that have such incredible appeal to the subconscious mind. Images that don't have any discreet representation thus allowing the user to interact with the painting as if they were seeing images in the clouds.
Letting your imagination wander, seeing what you may, or just enjoying the overall feel of the bold colors.

I like the impression of literal imagery in discreet bold fields. I am drawn to imagery whose shape and form is bold and expressive. I explore the image and express it in my own impressionistic style. I iterate and work the image to a point just outside the realm of my conscious recognition.
The image is reduced to something bold and abstract, but carries with it so much of its original life and feeling. I want to strip away the literal and let the viewer interact with it to bring forth his or her own imagination.
Each painting is made up of a limited unique palette. Overall, the image, texture, and colors are allowed to interact with your own imagination, or just lend its esthetics to the surroundings.