My focus in architecture was always on design, developing and utilizing my artistic skills to explore and communicate ideas/principles to my fellow architects and clients. I was always fascinated by the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, which, ‘describes how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another’.

NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE  by MDS/MILLER DYER SPEARS INC

Our experience of architecture (from the smallest detail to the urban landscape) is enriched by understanding this philosophy and exploiting it where possible – figure/ground, big/little, light/dark, smooth/textured, complex/simple, etc. I explored these issues while designing the new academic building for Northern Essex Community College (detail shown above).

After almost 40 years in the architectural profession, I decided to focus exclusively on the fine arts, exploring the same yin and yang philosophy in 2-dimensions.

I have always been interested in portrait and figure painting. Given my late arrival to the art world, I studied with several great artists – Dan Thompson, Steve Early, and Rob Liberace. These portrait and/or figure workshops taught me much – mostly what I didn’t know. It became clear to me that a basic understanding of our anatomy (bones & muscles) was a major asset to painting the human form. Thus began a couple year study/exploration of the human body.

REAR / SIDE / FRONT ELEVATIONS – CHALK ON GREY PAPER

The study above was done in chalk to get a better sense of the key form-giving features of the upper leg / core region of the body. It wasn’t until later that I realized I had laid the drawing out in true architecture style – front, side, and rear elevations. Hard to shed 40 years of training……

UP – OIL ON CANVAS

Once I felt comfortable with the basics of the human body I began to explore ways to represent the form with color.

More recently, I have begun exploring the urban landscape in and around the Boston area. In particular, I am fascinated with the 3-dimensional spaces created by Boston’s ‘Big Dig’. A number of paintings – titled ‘The Boston Canyon Series’ – explore the form, light, and color of these majestic spaces.

BOSTON CANYON #4

BOSTON CANYON #6

Another current series explores the way water shapes the Boston environment – both the harbor and Charles River Basin.

INTO THE HARBOR

THE CHARLES

SHOWS

Solo show, Human and Landscape Portraits in Watercolor, Newton Free Library

Solo show, Human and Landscape Portraits in Watercolor, Norumbega Gallery, Weston

Group Show, Urban Portraits, NewTV Gallery, Newton

Hope you enjoy the site. If you wish to inquire about any of the paintings feel free to drop me a note at ddyerart@gmail.com