Category Archives: graphics

Paint in Motion

This painting was created fairly quickly, but in layers: blue, orange, and black in that order. The blue is mostly covered up, but it comes through in some places. I did this very spontaneously, while at the same time I tried to pay attention to the overall composition and the mix of colors. I used acrylic paint and diluted it so that it would splatter and run.

Prints, canvas, and other formats available at FAA

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Geometrics

I started this piece with an idea from a recent New Yorker article on the artist Mark Bradford. What Mark often does is build up multiple layers of paint, often ending on top with a layer of white, and then scrapes the top layer or layers off with various instruments. He also uses collage to create other effects.

For this piece, I put down different colors and patterns on a couple of Photoshop layers. On top of those, I created a solid white layer. Then I masked that layer and started “digging through” the mask using various shapes, lines, and patterns. My initial idea was to do it all with rectangles, but in the middle, I thought it would be more interesting using other shapes and patterns. And in many places, the top layer was made partly transparent, so elements of the underlying layers only partly came through.n Toward the end, I added arcs and other lines on top of everything.

Prints and other fun stuff here.

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Elemental 1

This image was created entirely in Photoshop, but the process was much like that of abstracts I have made using paint and ink. In both cases, the idea was to start with an interesting shape or effect and then add to it (or take away) in an intuitive way. In the end, the exercise is a much about the process of discovery as it is about creating a pleasing image. Of course, the creation of something attractive is at the heart of how most people understand art, but sometimes one’s intuition doesn’t lead to that result. In such cases, the response should not be to discount one’s intuition and try to force an effect, but to trust the process and stick with it.

Paper, canvas, and metal prints available here

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Inkism 5

Another in a series inspired by Asian art. I created three counterpoints in this piece. In terms of the composition, there are back to front and side to side elements. The third counterpoint is between the monochrome gray/black and the splash of red. In putting all of these elements into the image, I hoped to use broad, simple strokes to create a rather complex and engaging image.

Standard prints, canvas, metallic, and other options available here

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Projection 7

Ink and watercolor washes plus some graphite pencil work on paper. As I have mentioned before, the process of creating these pieces is often driven by how the water, ink, and color react to each other. And the result is open to the interpretation of the viewer. Is it a map, a microscopic landscape of some sort, or something else?

See it with the other Projection pieces here.

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Projection 6

Like the other pieces in the Projection series, this one was created with ink washes, watercolors, and graphite on paper. The photo was enhanced using Lightroom and Photoshop. The notion of “projection” indicates both the manifestation of an image and an invitation to the the viewer to offer her/his own interpretation.

Canvas, paper, and metallic reproductions available at Fine Art America

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