Frozen Reflections- An Abstract Realism

     Abstract Realism, Jumbo Shrimp; yes I get the oxymoron but I did it anyway. This is going to be a "you suggest the ending" to a thriller mystery painting saga. Please look at the painting stages as my thought process developed and help me find a final work of art.
                                                               I am not yet pleased with the outcome!

STEP 1

 The canvas is 40 X 50 inches so it makes a large statement. Using my knowledge from a Dorate Muller workshop, I toned the canvas in a warm color and pasted torn  rice paper strips and gold leaf sheets onto the canvas. I had nothing in particular in mind for a subject matter or color choices. From a distance the blue, green and gold papers reminded me of islands within an Arctic Sea. 

Step 2 shows the softening and cooling of the background with the water showing reflections of the sky and islands. Thanks to Maya Baynes' workshop for reminding me of these principles.

STEP 2

In order to find the compliment of all the cool colors I added an abstraction of warm tones. At that point the painting suggested to me that the water of the sea were spilling down the remaining 2/3 of the canvas.



 

STEP 3

STEP 4

 In step 3  I see my vision and maybe I should have stopped but I didn't, what can I say! Thinking that the bottom was too busy and undeveloped I continued on trying to develop larger areas of blue to reflect the sky and give the eyes a place to rest which would then bring one's eye to the focal point.








      I do believe it shows better in person but here is my photo of the final stage at this moment in time. Did I lose my vision or did I make a well designed painting? How would you complete this mystery within a painter's mind?

Hope to hear from you.

FROZEN REFLECTIONS

Thanks.      
              

Art in Public Places

     You are invited to see my entry into the Vero Beach Art Club Member Exhibit held at the Indian River Courthouse, Vero Beach, Florida.  Art in Public Places is supponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County and begins April 15  ending July 14, 2011.

     This year I am going big (25" x 31") or going home.

     Bodacious was an experiment with the color field genre. Some of the materials are iridescent and glitter as light hits them from different angles. It represents a modern geometric abstract using bold colors.
    
    

Pointillism Collage

     Today pointillism is back on my artistic plate. I am fascinated by Seurat's famous works but do not have the knowledge nor the patience to paint a million dots. Thought I would kick it up a notch and make it bigger, bolder and abstract. 
First I painted a canvas with jewel toned acrylics in random strokes.

Step two I took my paste paper collection, a 3 ringed hole punch and some scrap booking cutting tools that my daughter gave me and punched out dots of all colors.

At the moment my plan is to glue complimentary dots onto the painted canvas colors.

Step 1