My interest in painting came about through sheer chance by an accidental
encounter one dark and rainy night with an old Impala driven by drunken
teenagers somewhere on the outskirts of Pittsburgh around 1986 right after
I shot my series Stingray.
A sudden blow to the head and a recovery period in Pt. Dume, California
and an essay by Henry Miller entitled "Paint as you like and Die Happy"
and something triggered in me. I began to do watercolors, almost in a fury of
activity. My friend and mentor, the Austrian painter Ferdinand Melichar
announced to me one day that I was a "a painter." He taught me the basics
of the craft -how to stretch canvas, how to gesso -how to mix color and I
began to paint first in oil (which I love) and then in other mediums, including
alkyds seaweed, dye, gouache, spaghetti and rags. I scratched and punched
the paintings into existence, building a long "running studio" where I could run
towards the canvas. I used everything from brushes to sticks.
For me it's a primitive dance, somewhat like my acting. I have no idea
what I'm doing and don't care to know. I just enjoy it.
Art is far too holy an experience and too connected to the corporate
boardroom. For me it is neither holy nor corporate. It is visceral,
expressionistic, therapeutic and Dionysian. There are mythic references
in my works and religious overtones, Christian as well as pagan.
I haven't a clue what I'm doing and I hope I never will.
There's great quote by Fred Astaire which says it all. Astaire said:
"I don't dance to express myself... I don't dance to make a point... I justdance..." .....Well when I paint... I just paint...

Nick Mancuso