furniture-making business , which he just retired from at age 85 .
In high school , Voss started painting with acrylics and tempera . ( Tempera is a method of painting with powder pigments and water mixed with egg yolk .)
After high school , he pursued his interest and talent in art at Maharishi International University in Fairfield , Iowa , graduating summa cum laude with a B . F . A . in 1990 .
Todd Voss moved to Minnesota in 1998 . “ Living in Minnesota for the last 23 years , I have been influenced by Lake Superior and the North Woods ,” he said . “ These two types of landscape : farm and lake , have been the main subject matter of my paintings .”
Voss ’ s paintings typically begin with field studies , small works done outdoors on location ( en plein air ), and reference photos . Then in his studio , he makes larger paintings from these reference materials .
“ I enjoy seeing a scene develop and come to life through this process ,” Voss said . “ As a dedicated realistic oil painter , my goal is to journey through my artwork deeply into a relationship with my surroundings . And in this process , not only create enduring images that express the preciousness of nature , but also connect us with something greater than ourselves .”
His painting process is to start with a drawing or a one tone underpainting before building the colors up on top of that structure . Voss said , “ I sink into painting something deeply and kind of come out of it satisfied and refreshed – working in the world of color and shapes . There is challenge , struggle , and for the most part a feel good experience from a person who makes art .”
Voss explained that art is also beneficial to those who view it . ““ It gives them a deep feeling – and puts them into another realm . Colors and imagination is a soothing and healing experience as a viewer ,” he said .
According to PsychologyToday . com , brain scans have revealed that looking at works of art trigger a surge of dopamine into the same area of the brain that registers desire , pleasure , and romantic love . Beautiful landscape paintings , for example , provoke contemplation of nature and purity and create a mood of peace and relaxation .
“ We all know the feeling of going to an art gallery and seeing the beautiful artwork and space which is all set up for an experience of beauty , calm , quiet or excitement in there ,” Voss said . ” A universal thing , you see all kinds of people in a gallery – little kids to older people , art students sketching and everyday people off the street . They appreciate art . People in awe all around them – that ’ s the power of art .”
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