C.J. Bradford

My work is primarily executed in pen and ink. Depending on the desired effect, I also occasionally use watercolor. As a young person, I was fascinated by the intricate work of Escher and the wild flights of mechanical fantasy by Rube Goldberg. While attending the University of Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to work with Jack Vallee. He greatly influenced my use of tension and movement. Later I received private instruction from Mrs. Hsiao Yen-Yeh. As an accomplished artist in traditional Oriental brushwork, she guided me in using positive and negative space as an integral part of pen and ink drawing. My works, whether serious or whimsical, are intended to provoke a dialogue with the viewer. I show them my thoughts, my sense of humor, my view of the world, and invite them to share the same with me.