Monday, May 31, 2010

Blue Green Yellow

I've always been intrigued by Monet's series of the pond at Giverny. The complexity of the composition and depth of color suggest that rendering the same scene repeatedly did not keep Monet from having a fresh perspective each time.


Reflections is an abstract that started out without any objective image in mind. As I laid the layers of color, the image that began to emerge reminded me of Monet's combination of blues, greens and yellows to achieve a harmonious picture. The canvas for this piece was toned with red gesso to provide warmth to the scene.


Reflections, acrylic on canvas, 16"x20", $150.00

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Rothko Explored

While the Rothko style of color field painting appears simple on the surface, I am finding that achieving the depth of color so typical of his work is difficult to achieve. As opposed to the spontaneity and energy of expressionistic painting, color field work requires infinite patience (or perhaps greater skill than mine?) as layers of color are added to create a perception of depth that is reminiscent of tonal painting.


Imagination, Acrylic on canvas, 16"x20", $100