Speculation

This painting is on canvas, 15" x 30" mixed acrylic media.

Abstract impressionism...expressionism...

A friend challenged me to create some colourful abstract works. Now I'm not sure if they're impressionism or expressionism...maybe both...if someone can express an opinion I'd be interested. They incorporate both smaller brushstrokes and layering up of paint as well as bold, freemoving application of the paint. Here are a couple of the series, I have many in progress.

They are as yet unnamed. But both are inspired by the view from my deck of a pointed hill behind which the sun sets. I had the feeling I wanted to capture the bright colour of the sunset as well as the shadows below the hill.

Acrylic on canvas

Abstract 1 20" x 24"
Abstract 2 24" x 36"

Autumn Fall

is the title of this painting which is one of those I've sold in the last month. At life drawing group, one of our models was lying on the floor, in this pose, and the idea came to me to compose this image of her as if she is part of the hills. At the time I'd travelled down to Wellington a couple of times on the train and it's fascinating seeing the changing landscape through the North Island of NZ. In the lower part of the island there are beautiful rolling hills that fold in upon each other. It fits in with my frequent theme of the body as the land and the earth mother.

Photo isn't fantastic, it isn't quite the finished painting... but you get the idea...

Mixed media

350gsm printmaking paper. Experimenting. Title of series: "Granite" #1 "About the Solitary", #2 "About the Wall", #3 "About a Strife in the Wood". This series is about thinking and based on an old book, "Granite" published 1909, written by John Trevena.

Art Therapy workshop

Why is it so difficult sometimes to just get into the studio and paint? It's so easy to let other stuff get in the way. I let other things get in the way as a way of procrastinating. I let too many things get in the way of my art. This or that has to be done before I can go in the studio... the phone rings... I can't find an idea... missing some material... excuses excuses.


Yesterday I attended a workshop run by an art therapist. This is the blurb:

'Processing Through Collage' will be presented by Janice Higgison. Janice is a very experienced tutor based in Tauranga. This practical workshop will use collage to create a timeline of life, tell a story, create a snapshot that reflects aspects of present life. or simply explore the process of selecting image and creating a new whole.

We created works that represented ourselves, and then how/what we want to be (goals...). The first work was to be 3D, the second could be flat or 3D. Was an interesting process and one that gave me some insight into how I might work some of my ideas into abstraction. Clearly I get bogged down in details because I like the small things. After we'd created our works we discussed them and this clarified not only the process but choices we'd made and standing back to look at my work I could see how those small details I'd put in, while important in the concept of the thing, did not need to be seen in the final idea presented. Hmm, I wonder if that makes sense. I'd made a 3D object full of little things but standing back to look there were three parts of the construction which stood out clearly and I could see how in my painting I can use this process to abstract key ideas and leave the details behind.