On the “City Lights” series “Speaking of Art,” local artists share insights into their influences, processes, and experiences in town. This edition features matter painter Bob Landstrom. “I use the earth as my painting medium, and for quite a while now, I’ve been using volcanic rock in particular,” Landstrom said.
Landstrom came across volcanic rock while studying Native American petroglyphs in the American Southwest. “In my paintings, you’ll find that each grain of crushed volcanic rock is pigmented before it’s attached to the canvas,” Landstrom said.
“So if you look closely at one of my paintings, you’ll see that each small grain of rock carries its own color distinct from all the other grains around it.” The colors tend to be very vibrant, and this form allows Landstrom to create with color in ways that would be hard to do with liquid paint.
Landstrom got started in art as a child growing up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was fortunate to be part of a very strong public school system. He was chosen to participate in a program that identified young students for placement in an advanced art school program.
From 5th grade through high school, he studied fine art at Carnegie Institute and Carnegie Mellon University at night and on weekends. “And from that environment, art is imprinted on who I am. It’s always been a major part of my life,” Landstrom says.
