UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #37

“Ginger Kiss”

(Acrylic) 

Size:  120x90cm

THE IDEA BEHIND THE PAINTING:

This painting came about when someone gave me a magnificent Torch Ginger flower.  I was so in awe of it I instantly made a drawing of it.  

As it was, I had a canvas which I was experimenting with.  After drawing the flower I realized that this canvas was just perfect for my purposes.  I then drew the outline of the flower onto the canvas in blue.  This blue became the background for the painting.

Art Techniques used to achieve this:

The canvas was initially an experiment in paint application.  I used reds, blues and purple acrylics.  I poured the paint on and manipulated it with flicks of water and by pressing sheets of paper onto the paint to get random texture.  This was allowed to dry and it was this that I used for the flower.

The painting evolved effortlessly.  It was as if the experimental dabbling was perfect for the subject.  Sometimes things like this just happen.  What a joy.  Life is sometimes like that too. 

http://www.buderimartstudio.com 

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #24

"Honesty"  (Acrylic on Masonite)  Size 77x103cm

ABOUT THIS PAINTING:

We’ve all heard of dirty linen getting aired in public.  But in this painting it is “clean linen” as opposed to “dirty laundry” being aired.  The painting is called “Honesty”.  

The subject matter – clean laundry was central to my life at that time having had four babies within three years.  Upon reflection, it surprises me that I had time to paint at all.

Artistic techniques used in the painting:

The palette uses Analogous colours of Blue/Violet/Red and White.  The Complimentary colour Yellow is also used.  As I have said in earlier posts, I spend quite a bit of time mixing my palette.  I have not used Black.  The painting is in mid tonal value.

The composition again is flat which a characteristic of most of my paintings is.  I have made no attempt of anchor the subject (the laundry basket) to the ground.  The shape of the basket takes most of the canvas and its rectangular shape repeats the shape of the whole painting.  The repeated patterning of the plastic basket creates rhythm and the variation in the colour theme in the last third of the canvas adds interest and provides a vertical emphasis which is balanced by the shape of the pink linen in the basket.  Imagine if that was not there – the subject would then become boring.  I have never tired of this painting probably due to the subtlety of its colours and the honesty for which it speaks.  It always seems fresh to me.

What do you think of the title?  Do you think it conveys the essence of the painting?

The previous three posts have addressed a local issue about trees and for those who have responded, I am happy to say that, although there has been no correspondence or communication from the Sunshine Coast Council, the surveyor pegs on the property have been removed and the trees in questions are still standing.  A big THANK YOU to all who sent emails.

Next week I will take Mathew Collings analysis of “What is Beauty” and apply it to some of my art over a few of the following weeks.

http://www.buderimartstudio.com