Ed Rosen's work has been influenced by his midwestern upbringing. He has painted with the artists of Cape Anne, Massachusetts, and it was there that he learned the use of color and light. In the past several years, the Santa Fe influence has inspired a new mood for his landscape paintings.

In the midwest, Ed's reputation has been built around his interpretation of the human figure. These influences come together to form a style that Ed terms "abstract emotionalism."

Growing up in Indiana, Ed's earliest training was at the laboratory school of Ball State University. He later attended Indiana University. After moving to Chicago, his creativity was developed by working some of the area's outstanding teachers in sculpture, printmaking, and painting. His work now shows what he calls the final influence: the written word.

Ed Rosen has been showing his work since 1956. He now lives in Glencoe, Illinois with his wife.

What is Abstract Emotionalism?
By Ed Rosen
February 20, 2004

I refer to my works as abstract emotionalism because my goal is to reach an emotion rather than a representation of a subject. If I wanted to produce a realistic view of nature or the human figure, I could accomplish this with a camera.

Each of my pieces has at least 3 coats of paint. My goal at the beginning strokes is to achieve an emotion from within. Then, of course, I hope to help the viewer feel the same response.  Inspiring this response in a viewer or collector is, for me, a measure of success. I'm not nearly as satisfied when my work is bought to fill a space � or selected for color, size, etc.

The most important complement I have ever received is "We bought your painting many years ago and still love it."