Abstract studies and illustrative work

Sunday Shopping, 11 x 12, Acrylic and collage

Summer is a great time to explore ideas and processes. I was reading the Robert and Sara Genn Newsletter (click here to read, and consider having it delivered) – about being a beginner, and keeping that freshness. How to turn off the talking brain and just 'go with the flow' is yet another challenge – freshness and flow, stop the overthink.

Acrylic lends itself so well to working in layers, adding scraffito, pulling off paint and creating inspiring grounds on which to work. In the figurative piece to the left I started very structured, painted most of it out, then approached again with fresh decisions. Taking a page from Brian Smith, from whom I took a course at the end of June: Brian will study an artist and paint in that style, trying new approaches and exploring.

Below is a 'transition piece', part of my jazz series. While clearly illustrative, I have used lots of layering, pushing and pulling of paint. The piece is inspired by the song 'Quiet Nights' (Corcovado), and by my dear guitar teacher, Tim Bedner, and his lovely and talented wife Elise Letourneau.