GESTURAL PAINTINGS
Click on images to see enlargement.
With these gestural paintings, the viewer is thrust into a maelstrom of marks - slashes, doodles, smears, smudges, stains, drips, and scumbles. These paintings were made spontaneously, with no preconceived planning or thought. The first mark guided the second mark which guided the third mark, etc. When at a loss for a next step, I would shut my eyes and lunge at the canvas with a loaded brush. This improvisatory process makes each painting unique from the others in the series.
The Lift series was inspired by Grass Style calligraphy, the most simplified but abstract and difficult form of writing in Chinese calligraphy. I wanted to utilize a device with which the viewer could feel they have a familiar reference point within a visual world that is completely abstract. The brushwork looks as if it might be calligraphy – as if it might be communicating non-visual ideas and concepts – but is purely abstract, visual communication.
GESTURAL PAINTINGS
Click on images to see full paintings.
With these gestural paintings, the viewer is thrust into a maelstrom of marks - slashes, doodles, smears, smudges, stains, drips, and scumbles. These paintings were made spontaneously, with no preconceived planning or thought. The first mark guided the second mark which guided the third mark, etc. When at a loss for a next step, I would shut my eyes and lunge at the canvas with a loaded brush. This improvisatory process makes each painting unique from the others in the series.
The Lift series was inspired by Grass Style calligraphy, the most simplified but abstract and difficult form of writing in Chinese calligraphy. I wanted to utilize a device with which the viewer could feel they have a familiar reference point within a visual world that is completely abstract. The brushwork looks as if it might be calligraphy – as if it might be communicating non-visual ideas and concepts – but is purely abstract, visual communication.