Notional Paintings
Notional paintings are quasi abstract. Each painting is inspired by a notion, a visceral feeling that generally begins as a vague vision that is realized through the creation of the piece. Sometimes these paintings look more like landscapes than abstract.
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Imaging Fuji
Imaging Fuji (24x36 Acrylic on Canvas) ... This painting began as an exercise in texture, but as I came closer to my goal, I realized that something more was needed. Adding the crane to this painting meant sketching it out on a canvas that was supposed to be finished. Not something I was eager to do. But sometimes you have to do what you don’t want to do simply because it needs to be done. -
Persevere
Persevere 16x20.jpg ... Acrylic on Canvas ... Painted during the depths of the Time of the Virus. a Time that was supposed to last only a few weeks, or until the weather turned warmer, or until some other goal had been achieved. The sky for this painting was inspired by the sunsets of J.M.W. Turner. I can think of no-one who captured a sunset better. -
Cyclists
Cyclists (48x24 Acrylic on Canvas) ... I had painted works on this scale before, but ceased because they took so long to complete. This was the first of a new generation of larger paintings for me. Taking less time as I had recently adopted a layering technique of applying smaller dots on top of larger dots, effectively allowing me to fill the entire canvas in less time. This technique had other bonuses as well, one of which was to create a texture to my work. A trait that I explored in latter works and continue to explore to this day. -
Markandeya
Markandeya 16x20 ... This is the second time that I’ve drawn from the Hindu Myth of Markendeya, the first one was painted three decades ago. The story that I read relayed how a wise man had less wisdom than he had believed. But he attained a form of enlightenment in the end, so I suppose it all ended well. -
Sailing the Simulation
Acrylic on Canvas ... 12x16 ... This painting pays tribute to Simulation Theory, a theory that proposes that all existence is an artificial simulation written in code that is often repurposed. My purpose with this painting is to show only those elements of reality that one can see, as it is a waste of processor time to display elements that one cannot see. Here, the waves are in the process of being generated, the sky is almost there, the boat is the one element that barely changes, so it is fully generated (at least the outside is). -
Forgotten Pilgrim
Forgotten Pilgrim 12x16 ... Acrylic on Canvas ... The Pilgrim theme is one that I have often visited since before I started painting, back when I still worked in color markers. Although I have painted multiple Pilgrim paintings (and usually contains that word in their titles), I usually do so as a landscape. This one not so much. -
Untethered
Untethered ... 16x20 ... One of my favorite constructs is William Blake’s idea of “Creative Contraries”. I learned of this as an undergraduate, but have since recognized there are many varying representations of this perception throughout history and cultures. With this painting the contraries are the tumultuous environs and the perfect stillness of the boat. Contraries can break us from receptive thought and awaken us to new perceptions. -
Tribute to Viggo
Tribute to Viggo 12x24 ... Inspired by a print created by Viggo Holm Madsen (an artist who does not get the attention he deserves). I met Viggo in my early years of painting, and his advice and encouragement were profound. I wasn’t particularly young when I started painting, and though my drive was real, accepting myself as an artist was difficult. To have a Master such as V.H. Madsen critique my work and encourage me forward was inestimable. I have an owl print of his watching over me in my studio.