UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #32

 

“The Range” 

(Acrylic) 

Size:  61x61cm

THE NARRATIVE BEHIND THE PAINTING:

This painting is an experiment in composition.  It deals with a limited pallet (yellow/purple/pink/white).  This composition invites the viewer to take a journey into the painting….a mysterious journey…where are the trees?  Being a regional practitioner I often address local environmental issues in my artwork.  This painting is no exception – it is devoid of trees.  In my personal life, the village in which I live is renowned for its leafy treed environment.  In fact the emblem that signifies Buderim is a Poinciana tree.  Buderim Mountain has a population of about 30,000 residents.  It has been settled for 150 years.  It has many imported trees that are mature and significant which resulted from planted by the pioneers to the mountain.  However the Qld and Local Governments have decided that trees should to be indigenous to be politically correct, and plan over the next five year to remove a large number of non-indigenous trees that grow in the Sunshine Coast region!  Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth.  Council is replacing these very old, large majestic trees with indigenous tube stock.  The ultra-purists in conservation circles refuse to see that in an urban area such as Buderim Mountain which is inhabited by a large population of people, that these mature leafy trees provide valuable amenity to the urban area as well as beauty.  I suppose this painting says something about this matter

Art techniques used to achieve this:

You, the viewer, ask yourself…“Why does this image visually work?”

It works because of the horizontal bands across the top (hills) and foreground.  The two horizontal bands are joined by a distinctive vertical (purple) connection forming something like an “H” on its side.  This gives the image stability when set within the square canvas.

What makes it an interesting composition is that the connecting vertical line is asymmetrical.  It also is slightly off centre and has contrasting colours (yellow/purple) on either side.

The composition takes the eye on a journey from left into the painting and then up to the apex of the range.

The painting is semi-abstract in that it relies on composition and colour rather than representational content.  Although the painting has perspective, the areas of colour are applied in a uniform way that creates the flat planes of colour that I favor.    (See previous post #31 for more details on this matter)

http://www.buderimartstudio.com/ 

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #31

“Its about Oil…its about Water” 

(Mixed media and bitumen on ply board)  

Size:  90x90cm

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

Many of my paintings are conceptual which means that they are about ideas and not just decorative works.  I did this painting in response to the degradation of our environment by multinational companies and some governments that indiscriminately and blatantly plunder our Earth’s resources.

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

The painting is almost monochromatic in that the blues blend from one to the other. 

The square support is ply board which has been primed with gap-filler to achieve the textured surface.  The collage in the centre re-states and  emphasizes the square shape of the painting.  I dribbled bitumen onto plastic and when dry then removed the plastic.  The dry bitumen shape was then adhered to the collage to represent oil. 

The dribble in the upper border is the only part where Orange (the complimentary opposite to Blue) is used to subtly draw attention to it. 

In this painting, less says more.  What do you think?  Does it achieve its aim?

The beauty of our environment is being allowed to slip away.  Beauty is nourishment for the soul.  This degradation of our environment has been demonstrated this week at a local level.  The beautiful natural forest in the centre of Buderim Village that I wrote about in posts #21/22/23 was destroyed this week - cut down by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. 

 

In its place will be a steel and timber viewing platform overlooking the back of a shopping centre.  My paintings are often about the environment... it is my way of saying that we have to be aware of what we are losing before it’s too late.  

http://www.buderimartstudio.com 

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #22

“Passion”   (Acrylic) -  90x120cm  

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

This painting is purely abstract.  The colour red predominates in this painting. Red is rich in symbolic meaning and imbues us with energy.  The title “Passion is derived from the psycho-physiological effects that the colour red has on human beings throughout the world.  Red is considered to be associated with “passion”.  The four basic emotions of human beings are love, anger, sadness and fear.  Passion would be associated with both “love” or “anger”.  Being an art therapist, I would remind you, the reader, that one cannot presume to know which of these two emotions is represented in this painting.  The viewer often projects aspects of themselves onto a painting, so I would suggest that instead of “reading” an emotion into this painting; just see it for what it is – “Passion”.

In this painting, the intense colour was derived from the under painting and also a variety of different types of reds.  Therefore it is a unique red.  Unfortunately the internet does not portray the colours of my paintings accurately.  I spend considerable time mixing my colours, and harmonizing or contrasting my palette.  This subtlety is lost by digital reproduction through photography and the internet.

One of my passions is nature.  

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

My relationship with colour is very strong.  The mixing of the pigments is very relaxing and it is recognized by science that certain colours affect mood.   Oft times I will plan my palette before beginning a painting.  I tend to allow the paint to stimulate my imagination. 

Subjects 1, 2 and 3 show that I started off with water crayons and then progressed from there into acrylics.  None of the water crayons remained visible in the finished work.  It’s a little like going on an adventure of discovery.  Discovery of what I will learn from the painting process from both an objective and subject view point.  The objective being about how I can create an aesthetically pleasing and technically correct effect with the paint.  Subjectively, what I discover about myself in the process.

Borders have been a recurring feature in some of my paintings and this one is no exception.  Texture in most of my paintings is to a minimum.  This is achieved through the use of a roller.  The composition is balanced by both sides having inferences of form which draws the eye to the predominating red space in the centre and the yellow/green coloured border above.  The painting has no movement – it is static.  Red suggests energy however in this painting the overall effect suggests harmony and calmness.

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #17

Title “Heartland – My Buderim Backyard” (Acrylic) 90x90cm

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

My inspiration for this painting comes from my backyard in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. Buderim is situated on an old volcano and noted for its natural rainforest beauty. Many of my paintings are inspired from the natural beauty surrounding Buderim. Nature is my friend. It concerns me that much of the beauty of Buderim is under threat because many of the senior trees in this area that have historical significance are non-indigenous. The original indigenous trees of this mountain were the Australian Red Cedar that was wiped out a centaury ago by the timber industry. The early pioneers replanted the area with non-indigenous trees such as the Poinciana, Fig, Camphor Laurel and Slash Pine. Many of these trees have historical significance. However because they are non-indigenous and are not politically correct, the regional council is proposing to remove these trees off Buderim Mountain. This would be a great loss that would change this beautiful area for ever. .

The name of this painting is derived from the heart shaped leaf of the Monstera Delicio (non-indigenous) plant. Buderim is my backyard. Keep Buderim beautiful.

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

Like “Greener” (last week’s post) conservation of nature is the subject. It is well suited to the colour green, which is the dominant colour in both paintings. This painting however is more realistic.

I started this painting by pouring paint onto the blank canvas to break up the white surface. This “breaks the ice” for the painting process. You can see some of that initial application still with the organic growth in the background. I have retained a degree of flatness but have achieved the sense of depth, not by perspective, but by putting darks against lights. This is what gives the painting its representational characteristics. In “Greener” (last week’s post) the painting surface did not have depth and I used analogous colours. Here I use complimentary colours. Complimentary colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel. Both paintings are well balanced and are set in a square.

You can see that I have used different techniques in these two paintings to convey similar meaning. Which of the two paintings do you think expresses the message best? Are you beginning to better understand of abstract art? Can you enjoy and appreciate abstract art more?