The artworks of Clayton Bass are informed by his passion for nature and astronomy as well as the profound physical beauty and cultures of the Southwest, intersecting with his imagination and dreams. Stylistically, his works explore realism seen through the lens of surrealism, symbolism, and allegory. Viewers are invited to create their own story in response to the visual elements. His current painting series, Dreamscapes, incorporates narrative elements referencing the cycles of nature and the passage of time, infused with a strong sense of place. Clayton Bass is represented by Divine West Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico and SmithKlein Gallery in Boulder, Colorado. His work is included in private, corporate, and university collections in fourteen states. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from East Carolina University and completed the Empire State College (SUNY) Studio Program in New York City, where he apprenticed with abstract expressionist painter Michael Goldberg. Bass is an enthusiastic traveler and enjoys exploring the Southwest and beyond with his wife Hester, a children’s author (www.hesterbass.com). They have two adult children who share their sense of adventure.