UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #52

Title:   “Satsang Triptych” 

Satsang Series

(Inks and Acrylic on Handmade papers)

104x220cm

THE IDEA BEHIND THE PAINTING

 A large painting is deceptively difficult to do.  It may appear to those who don’t paint that size does not matter, but... yes it does!  It takes much more energy to paint a big painting.  Also it requires the painter to keep track of the composition.  It goes unsaid that the environment where the painting takes place, also plays a part.  For instance, one cannot do a large painting in a small studio.  These factors all have to be considered when doing a large painting.

I painted this triptych when I was in India.  There was an art studio at the ashram where I was staying.  An ashram is a spiritual space to which people can retreat – in this case the focus of the retreat was meditation.  Meditation is not like prayer.  The Western mind tends to be preoccupied with analysing and finding solutions – in “doing”.  On the other hand, the Eastern mind tends to be more concerned with “being”.  Therefore meditation is attained by sitting quietly and watching ones thoughts move in and out of consciousness.  Not analysing why, but just observing.

This painting (triptych) is about meditation - the mind as a screen with thoughts being observed without judgement in the present moment.

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

I painted this triptych on three large pieces of handmade paper (bought and made in India). 

I used a variety of inks to symbolize the movement of thoughts because colours in ink are more vibrant.  It was a very expansive experience to pour ink at random onto three sheets and then develop something coherent out of this image. I then used over painting with acrylic paint thus eliminating that which was unnecessary and therefore bringing order and harmony from out of chaos.

The point of focus is not as easily discerned with a triptych.  The three sheets are separated by the spaces between so balance needs to be both within each discreet sheet and also overall.  This is even more so with abstract art because there is no definable image that the viewer’s eye can interpret into an identifiable image.  In this case, the viewer’s eye wanders across and around the three sheets unimpeded because the composition appears balanced.  There are instances of drama but none are more dramatic than the others – in fact there is a type of repetitiveness throughout the whole painting which instils calmness in the viewer.  The background (dominant) colour is mixed and is not a commercial colour.

The painting is not framed and ideally should be hung between two large pieces of clear perspex so that borders and boundaries are avoided.   This then allows a feeling of expansiveness. 

I believe that my art is closely aligned with my idea of spirituality and I approach it with a kind of reverence.  I also find something intrinsically spiritual in nature and the natural environment.

I have now been blogging for a whole year and wish to thank those who have read and followed these blogs.  It is very gratifying to know that there is an audience out there as the numbers reveal.

Also I would like to advise that the painting of “Sandplay” that I donated to St. Hilda’s School, Gold Coast (which was my old school)  featured in blog #47 raised over $6200 for the school. 

http://www.buderimartstudio.com