People often ask “What is your favorite ‘style’ or ‘genre’ of art?” To be frank, I’ve always struggled with answering that sort of question. My struggle is not only related to art preferences but life in general—favorite food, favorite band, favorite movie, favorite book, etc. I don’t really have “favorites” for the simple reason that I admire and appreciate so many different things. The context, meaning, and purpose are as important to me as the style, the food, the music, the movie, the book, etc. In fact, what is most important to me IS—context, meaning, and purpose.
Be Still, Life!
“So, my best answer to that question is ‘no favorites, I like most art styles!’”
Typically, I paint/draw in a more representational (realistic) style but love to integrate abstract elements in some fashion or other. I prefer asymmetry—obtaining balance without simple, formal, right-to-left balance. Asymmetry is more difficult to achieve but is much more exciting to view in my opinion. I also love abstract art. For those that don’t really know what “abstract art” truly means, it means that there is a recognizable subject matter but there is some level of distortion or obscuring of natural perspective, color, texture, shape, or other.
Currently, I am doing a series of abstract still-life paintings to simply enjoy the process of color, balance, movement, and more without being overly concerned with representational accuracy. It really is a great exercise in creating a division of space without relying totally on literal observation. I am free to stretch, move, slice, add, subtract, or whatever. What I am observing is providing information and inspiration to create something totally unique. And, hopefully, by using good principles of design I can achieve something of visual interest.
Recently, the Pike County Art Guild (PCAG) has been hosting drawing/painting-from-life sessions at Sienna Cloud studio. This has been a tremendous opportunity for me (and for others) to gain inspiration from others and to explore new methods and ideas while honing the skills that we already possess. It has been so helpful!
Below is a sampling of some of the abstractions that have been inspired by these PCAG sessions.
If you ever see an art piece that has no recognizable subject matter, it might be considered a “non-objective” work. Perhaps most of you would recognize these “non-objective” pieces by renowned artists— Franz Kline, Piet Mondrian, and Jackson Pollock.
I always try to learn something of a spiritual nature through all that I do. In studying these still-life setups in the studio, I am reminded of the passages of scripture that encourage us to “Be Still…”. The common concept of “stop and smell the roses” is another way of looking at these man-made, still-life compositions. Taking time to meditate on seeing not just the objects but rather the spaces, shapes, textures, edges, colors, values, and much, much more. This sensitizes me in a large way as I begin to discern what is obvious through simple observation and look deeper to see what is significantly obscure or even absent. This turns me from simply seeing “what is” to envisioning “what can be”.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth! —Psalm 46:10”
Slow. Down. Contemplate. See Deeply. Be Still, LIFE!
If you would like to see more works like this or even not like this, feel free to visit my studio by appointment at 113 North Three Notch, Troy, AL. Enjoy!