Keeping it simple has been a healthy motto that I’ve practiced and the best advice I could give. Like most things it often requires a daily reminder and can feel a little like work. To counter this I encourage chaos or playfulness in my painting, as relief. Lately repetition in my small works, which I feel relates to pattern, some order in the disorder of life. I like the boundaries that pattern can supply whether strict or loose. That statement may make little sense but will leave it as in my head it makes perfect sense, showing you what we are dealing with.
Back to keeping the physical focus. At sixty-one I don’t know if I’m slower than I was at fifty or just more thoughtful. I try to proceed with caution, when in the studio. Whether lifting and moving things or climbing ladders, one step at a time, always remembering where I stand, on the ladder. If I’m on the fourth step and applying paint it can be easy, going up and down to forget I am on the fourth step which would be a problem. One day I forgot I was on the first step and luckily did not go to the floor. Just an example of how keeping the focus, staying in the moment saves the day.
This painting titled: Abstract Yellow, Taupe, ROADS, 2018, is one of two that were made together the other having a predominately Blue feeling with an accent of Fuchsia is currently with a dealer and I don’t have a good image of it, shame on me. So this one may be sold which is very nice. I like the direction of the work. I did not continue with the approach after the two. I will again in the near future as it will be leaving me and having a physical reference of the approach is good.
I like this work with the topic because the title ROADS makes me think of direction which brings to mind focus. So there you go. And of course, CHAOS with some order…wide eyed emoji.
Abstract Yellow, Taupe, ROADS, 2018, oil/wood, 48”x26” approx.