Artist Statement

The world of art had my attention at a young age. My grandfather was an artist and I really enjoyed seeing his paintings and watching him work. His paintings to this day evoke feelings of excitement and creativity. Art to me is not only a way of self-expression, but it is also a means to escape the everyday rigors and mundane aspects of life. When people see my art I want them to experience a sense of that freedom as well.

The majority of my work has been in painting, pen/ink drawings with watercolor and more recently digital artwork. Over the years I have also explored photography. Surrealism and abstract art have had quite an influence on my work. I think my pen/ink drawings and digital artwork showcase this the most. My goal as an artist is to allow the viewers of my work to feel the sense of creativity and freedom without straying too far from reality. Art helps me create a world or planet of my own, hence the name “Planet Ott”.

Selecting themes and subject matter for my work is something that has been ongoing. Every experience and adventure enables me to conjure up ideas for my work. Growing up I always had a fondness for the natural world and a love for basketball. Basketball and art have gone hand in hand with me. The freedom I feel when I play basketball is the same freedom I feel when I am creating art. I think my artistic side carries over in some ways to how I play, and in turn basketball has given me the work ethic I need to be an artist.

Over the past few years I have been fortunate to travel throughout Europe. This time for me has been spent collecting memories and images to one day share with others.