vie après la morte
acrylic, cotton, gouache, acrylic gel (May-June 2024)
I revisited my more playful and intuitive abstract work. I covered a terrible old painting from 2018 (yay for free canvas). I start these pieces by scattering pieces of torn cotton balls and then I drop different colors of paint across wherever they please. Then, in one long, intensive gesture I soak all the cotton in the different colors - adding cotton and more paint as needed. Here I decided to introduce my beloved acrylic gel sculpting; I let my intuition guide me to the symbols meant for this piece: the dragonfly, cat, tree (of life?), a bird’s (raven’s?) claw, some thorny vines, and a small spiral. I really like the black accents juxtaposed with the lighter, airier base colors. I couldn’t imagine a better representation of the contrast of my own world at the moment.
Life after death.
Still mapping out my own.
untitled
acrylic, cotton, gouache 16x20 in. (October 2021)
I consider this my first “abstract” work in my artistic career. I dropped acid after a considerable art hiatus that persisted after graduating and moving cross-country to Philly. And somehow, I ended up with this beauty in probably the shortest amount of time I’ll likely ever spend on one painting. I don’t know what possessed me to use the cotton balls in this way, or what even compelled me to even create something abstract as I had not particularly favored the style ever. I can confidently say that I get it now; I only get it more with each day that passes. It was an expression that was pure, unrestricted, and one that could capture everything I struggled to find the words or recognizable images to represent. Over time, I considered this my favorite painting I’ve ever accomplished. I’m not sure.. it just grew on me.