Since Sliced Bread - Mixed Media on Paper 21'' x 30'' John Nieman creates arresting works which possess both the stopping power of commercial advertisements and the witty humor of pop art. Nieman worked successfully in the advertising business for many years. Perhaps this has led to his focus on the juxtaposition of text and image; how one can inextricably impact on the other. The images and texts that Nieman creates are however, the visual end of a conceptual process. Phrases and sayings generate images and collections of free-associations which are then placed together. Sometimes the images and text support each other, but often there is a humorous tension, a hint of irony. One gets the sense that Nieman enjoys and is having fun in creating his works. The works are themselves very appealing. Nieman’s style is representational and unpretentious, giving the works a fresh, clean feel. His colors are bright, yet the watercolor and pastels he uses give them a tone and quality that has a curiously tranquil feel. The flat watercolor has a beautiful translucent quality and therefore, it is hard to tell if the text came before or after the image. The text often melts subtly into the background, so as the viewer comes in to read it, they are drawn into its story. John Nieman’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries throughout the Northeast, and featured in national and international juried competitions. He currently lives in New York.

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