CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT AND MIXED MEDIA ARTWORK
MY CREATIVE PROCESS
BEGINNING AN ORIGINAL PAINTING WITH COLOR AND SHAPES
I often begin an abstract or mixed media painting by selecting my palette of acrylic paint colors and using a variety of brushes to create interesting shapes. At this point, I have no intention other than covering the canvas with paint and marks. Most of these early layers will be covered with new layers of paint and collage material resulting in interesting textures unachievable any other way! As the painting progresses, there's often tension between the shapes (geometric vs. organic), color choices (warm vs. cool) and values (lights vs. darks) which add drama and interest. My only desire is that my paintings express a spontaneous and painterly characteristic with a spirited sense of color!
ADDING COLLAGE MATERIALS TO MY MIXED MEDIA ARTWORKS
For me, adding some collage to my paintings bring depth to the art that the painting alone cannot provide. It adds an additional layer of history--human history! The collage materials I use most often are items such as old letters, maps, postcards, stamps, new or old magazine pages, dress patterns, book pages, photographs, illustrations, and painted papers all of which tell a story, recalls a memory, or evokes an emotion. These are added throughout my painting process. This is a totally intuitive process because I do not start with a plan only a vague idea or concept. I search through my collage materials and select the pieces I think will work with this painting!
MY DIALOG WITH THE PAINTING
As my collage elements dry, I continue to paint intuitively--applying one color and then reacting to the next color applied to the canvas as if I were having a dialog with the painting. Is this the right hue? Is it too dark or too light? Should it be a warm or cool color? Is there too much or too little of this color being used? Are my shapes varied? Do I have enough variety in lines--thick/thin, dark/light, geometric/organic? There are dozens of questions that must be answered as I continue to paint. As I progress in the painting, I add distinct shapes and marks using graphite, watercolor pencils, markers, oil pastels, or wax crayons. I continue to add, wipe out, or change colors and shapes until I am pleased with the overall composition and feel of the painting. Painting for me is a process of experimentation. Each time I walk back into my studio to continue working on a piece, I must take the time to study how my work is evolving. Is the work harmonious? Is it balanced? Does your eye go to the center of interest? Does it then move around the painting to explore other interesting areas? Does it evoke the feelings I'm trying to express? Is there enough variety in values to give the painting dimension and life? Is it pleasing to my eye? And, when my response to the question "Is there anything else this painting needs?" is "No", I consider the painting finished and only lacking my signature and a title!
MODERN ARTWORK FOR EVERY ROOM
I create contemporary abstract and mixed media artworks for every room to solve a decorating challenge or create a mood. See examples here. Each canvas is filled with layers of history and texture and my intention is to provide the viewer with a story, memory, or an emotion. If my art allows the viewer to feel an emotion, go back in time with a memory, or complete the story by interpreting it through their own lens and experience, then I have succeeded!