Artist aims to ‘paint and create as much as possible until I’m gone’

Loren Bates is a prolific painter. He has a collection of more than 400 paintings in an “art vault” and two other rooms in the basement of his Valley home. His ultimate goal is to “paint and create as much as possible until I’m gone” and to be the “last postmodern American abstract impressionistic artist of the 19th century.”

Bates’ work is eye-catching and curious. The colors are bold and the forms and shapes that emerge are chaotic yet organized, representing human forms, faces and complex emotions, depending on the mind-set of the viewer. He has been told that he has “Picasso” flair. He said that the bright colors come from his heart and mind.

He paints flat, beginning with one line and no preconceived ideas. “It goes from there and it flows until it’s finished,” he said, “You can turn the paintings four different ways and see four different scenes.”

Bates, 61, is a bohemian of sorts, an unconventional nonconformist who finds contentment in creating – not running – in the rat race. “I’d paint on anything like cabinets and mirrors when I couldn’t afford canvas,” he said.

A self-taught artist, Bates also uses the written word to express himself. He is working on an autobiography called “Leaving the 43rd” and is always adding to his collection of poetry that, like his paintings, show his upfront and honest nature. “I don’t view the world with my eyes covered,” he said.

His poems are deep with meaning and represent his views. Like his paintings, the words at first seem chaotic but begin to make sense upon a second or third read.

Bates has been through some hardships and has used art to work through and organize his thoughts. He moved to Spokane Valley from Seattle a couple of months ago. He lives with his daughter, whom he is just now getting to know, and her three children. “I am here to see what my future has in store for me,” he said, “I’m impressed with the community.”

Bates has never shown in a gallery setting but is hoping to one day have a show that demonstrates the progression of his work.

Though he has hundreds of paintings, hardly any are titled, only numbered and dated. Bates’ grandson, Bryce Hardison, 7, likes the red and black one. “It looks like an army suit,” he said, “His art is very good for how old he is.”

Bates is currently showing his work at Art, Music, and More in the Valley Mall while looking for other forums in which to display the creative expressions that are his life.