Squaresville

Squaresville

16" x 16" - acrylic on paper - SOLD

Playing with arrangements of squares using a warm/hot palette, my antidote for the white winter ahead (and perhaps already present where you are?). Lots of paint layers and hints at what lies beneath each.

Swimming in the Deep End

Swimming in the Deep End
24" x 36" - acrylic on canvas - $400

I have recently taken a major plunge into the deep and scary depths of abstract (non-objective/no subject matter) painting. Over the last year I have stuck my toe into this vast sea with varied results and levels of satisfaction. Those works were on small canvases and larger pieces of paper. I knew that I needed to scale up and work on larger canvases and that was going to require a different level of commitment and bravery. There seemed no other way to get into this water, and so I 'jumped in'.  

This painting is the first larger work that began with some square shapes and a limited palette that I was determined to adhere to. Below are some progress shots that tell the story of how the painting evolved. 

NOTE: The discrepancy between the colour cast of the blues in these photos (warm/teal/turquoise vs cool/cobalt/ultramarine) is due to the effect of different lighting at the time the photo was taken. The final painting is warmer in hue (i.e more 'turquoise') than the photo at the top of the post suggests.

at this stage I was thinking of making some larger colour/shape changes and added coloured papers to the canvas to see how they might look.

and at this point I began to add some circular shapes, lots of them.

I am really happy with how this one turned out and really enjoyed the challenge. I don't intend to give up painting 'abstracted landscapes', but I will continue to pursue this for awhile. 

Listen to the Trees

Listen to the Trees

24" x 30" - acrylic on canvas - SOLD

    This painting was inspired by an earlier one in which the individual brush strokes played a major role in the suggestion of form. Painting using this kind of brush work is a process of layering separate strokes of colour, and hoping that something emerges! 

    Two of the process photos are below and give you some idea of the way in which the painting evolved. The final colour scheme was a bit unusual for me (so much green) but what I really like are the 'neutral greys' or the light grey-greens. Unfortunately some of the subtlety and richness of the colours and palette (even the greys) are lost in the photo.   

Mirage (diptych)

Mirage    

diptych 8" x 16" (each panel 8"x8") acrylic & mixed media on canvas  $125

I seem to be on a roll with these small format abstracted landscapes painted across two or three canvases. In this latest diptych I used mostly acrylic paint, but also added some beautiful Japanese decorative washi papers and inks. I love how the design and the warm palette of reds, oranges, yellows and magenta came together. Cheers!

Surface Terrain

Surface Terrain

8" x 8" - acrylic on canvas - SOLD

Experimenting with texture and surface buildup, this one invites touching. 

Is it a landscape? Perhaps. Horizontal planes naturally suggest physical space and the land. The title is slightly oxymoronic. Whatever, I find this little one compelling for its palette and tactile qualities. Cheers.