Studio KDD

The Biography of Modern Abstract Artist KDD

The Early Years

Born Klaus Dieter Dill and adopted by an American military couple, artist KDD was raised in the Southeastern United States.

He began making art at an early age. He made pictures in kindergarten using only a black crayon. Cartoon strips were produced with a friend in the early 1960's.

Creative writing became a pastime during grade school in Germany and piano lessons were short-lived.

KDD's creativity waned in the middle 1960's, three moves in two years was a major distraction. College in the early 1970's sent him on a life long spiritual quest.

The Middle Years

After a brief tour in the Army, KDD went back to college and found he could not live without his new mistress ~ photography.

He quit college in 1976 and spent the next twelve years as a photographer working in broadcasting and print journalism.

He taught photography at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama in the late 1980's before returning to college to study fine art.

Life at Montevallo was great for a novice in the study of art, however, the curriculum was very strenuous and the faculty very demanding. Relationships were often strained by the rigorous schedule.

Ceramics became his new mistress. The faculty tried to refine his work, but clay was the vehicle that allowed KDD to develop his rough and unfinished style.

Using different firing techniques (Raku being his favorite) and chemicals for color, he pushed the roughness of his vision ever forward.

He used photography to record his new-found skills. His love of art grew and his appreciation of art history blossomed.

Graduation came all too soon and it was time for KDD to move on to new adventures. He received a B. F. A. from the University of Montevallo in 1990. Now he was a multiple media artist.

Post Graduate Years

Since graduation, he has taught photography in Georgia and Alaska, worked in a photo lab, driven the AL-Can highway, become addicted to computers and digital art, has done graphic design, web design and newspaper design.

He has traveled throughout the U. S. and has made trips to his native Germany and Europe. He found his German family in 1993 and has had many pleasant visits with them.

The Current Years

Today, in his spare time, KDD reads nontraditional art history material, gnostic and spiritual texts.

KDD's historical influences are the Abstract Expressionists, the Fauves, the Futurists and the Dadaists. Modern influences include Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Scott Meyer.

KDD works in modern ceramics, modern art sculpture, abstract painting, woodcut prints, abstract drawing and photography. He is currently working with digital media and making giclee prints.