Scott Menaul

Scott Menaul was an Abstract Surrealist artist from Clearwater, Florida.

His first artistic influences were his parents. His mother was a student of oil painting who took him regularly to the Art Institute of Chicago and other museums around their home in Chicago, IL. His father, in addition to being an electrical engineer, was a jazz trumpet player. He took Scott to numerous musical performances, hearing most of the jazz greats of the ’60s and ’70s including Bill Evans, widely considered to be one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.

Scott’s first artistic expression came in the form of pinhole photography. Combining his interests in math, science and art, photography was a natural inclination for a young man who set out to discover himself and the world. Building his own cameras using a simple pinhole in a piece of aluminum foil and shoeboxes, he created compelling and dreamy black and white images, foretelling of his future artistic career.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Scott studied electrical and computer engineering at Syracuse University. Although he showed great promise as an engineer, his artistic side became increasingly difficult to ignore, with Scott finding himself in his seat sketching out ideas for photographs rather than paying attention in calculus or electromagnetics class.

During his college years Scott discovered the work of Joan Miro. The combination of abstract art with surrealist fantasy created an epiphany. Having seen predominantly representational art all his life, this work was something very new and different. It proved that artwork could be limitless in its possibilities. Moving that idea to a philosophic viewpoint, life too might be limitless in all its possibilities. Imagination and the ability to dream are the keys!

Fastforwarding through the earning of a degree and a short career in electrical engineering, he transitioned over to advertising photography and graphic design, co-founding a well-known and respected Boston area marketing communications firm. It is during this time period that Scott developed his eye for composition and color. Creating visually captivating photographs, illustrations and layouts, combined with the deadlines and demands of clients formed a crucible for the development of this rare artistic talent.

Using his expertise in the digital realm, Scott began creating fine art using 3D rendering and illustration programs. His fine art debuted at the first Boston CyberArts Festival in 1999.

Ever since high school, Scott was on a search for answers. Why are we here? Why do we experience so many limitations in our abilities? How can we overcome our limitations? What is our purpose here? The search led to the reading of Eastern philosophy, Dianetics, Yoga, Zen meditation and other studies. The conclusion?

“We are spiritual beings in human form learning to overcome the human limitation. We are here to have an experience; and to love, live and help others.

“Art plays a vital part in our life experience…to communicate feelings that cannot be communicated through words. Looking in even broader terms, Life is communication. Art can “touch” one on a high aesthetic plane that transcends the physical plane and reaches another from one spiritual being to another.

“It is this realization that art transcends the physical plane that drives me to create my artwork. Looking at pigment on a canvas and having a strong emotional experience is a transcendiary experience that could lead one to the conclusion that we are spiritual beings.”

Much of Scott’s artwork contains glass-like objects. These reflect, refract and transmit light and color, creating beautiful works of art. Scott likens the glass-like objects, sometimes spheres, cubes, pyramids or other shapes, to the human spirit. The human spirit reflects, refracts, transmits and adds to the world around him.

His artwork is very spiritual in nature, influenced by his exposure to the masters, improvisational jazz, Eastern philosophy and spiritual studies. It’s abstract and surrealistic, influenced by the creativity and spontaneity of the work of Joan Miro. Scott may be the Abstract Surrealist of the 21st century. Study one of his works of art and you too may find yourself transcending from the physical to a higher plane.