February 2017. In the most recent series of paintings Lorraine is the subject or figure, but the ideas of abstract painting and contemporary painting supersede the image. Color, texture, line, space, surface or plane. Line is used to create rhythm or movement sometimes to divide space. Color often creates form, texture creates color or another element across the surface which can be viewed from the side.
Process /
While explaining a painting in my Gallery I wanted to share how I solved the problem of rhythm in a piece. The painting was horizontal in shape and four years I had been painting vertical. Vertical compositions and movement came naturally, but as I had not been painting horizontal for a while I was challenged in getting the movement I wanted. I placed the painting flat on milk crates stacked two high. This allowed me to move around and move my marks through the painting in a fluid way. By raising the painting up I was still inside the painting and not outside or away from it.
Black and White as color /
While working on my last series of paintings. I returned to thinking of the use of black and white as color. I remembered reading a Matisse's essays where he spoke of using black as color. Currently while visiting the show (Inventing Downtown, Artist-Run Galleries In New York City 1952-1965) at the Grey Gallery with the book accompanying by Melissa Rachleff. I noticed and became interested in how much white paint was used as a color and how the Artist of this time where exploring Black and White as color. It all seemed to click as I painted the Lorraine series. It made sense and especially against the primary colors I was able to see and use both Black and white as colors rather than depth or light et..
