Abstract Art

My Process: Action Painting

Action painting requires a trust in the process--a willingness to forfeit control and precise execution with abandonment.  When I paint this way, I am trusting that my hand, heart, eye and mind will find their own dance of color and form.

 It is through years of looking at art and creating art that the foundation is set.  All these patterns are now familiar and I can trust that new forms will be recombined from old forms.

In plain terms, I just start painting.  My years of experience guide me in what to do next.  This doesn't mean everything happens easily and seamlessly, or that it all works all the time. 

But it takes that first step--being willing to begin--and the continued practice of making art--that lead to visual discoveries. 

Here's today's:

  Action Painting #201, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

Related articles

New Abstract Painting in Greens and Blues

How I Became an Abstract Expressionist Painter

Beautiful Games: action paintings

Spontaneity?

New Abstract Painting in Greens and Blues

I began this new abstract painting by squeezing thick lines of paint directly from the tube:  lime green, light blue, pthalo blue, and spots of yellow.  I painted the background in unbleached titanium, avoiding the other colors until I had most of the canvas covered.

Then I took my brush and began combining all the colors, painting instinctively to swirl and blend the strong colors into the background.  Next, I took a thin mixture of a grayish green and added that with a brush.

To lighten everything up, I added titanium white, blending that as well.  Then I stood back to study what I had.

I decided a touch of alizarin crimson would help, and applied some with a brush.  I liked it, but overall the painting looked too dark and muddy.  So I picked up my palette knife and began to scrape sections, to add more white, a bit of the lime green, the pthalo blue--working instinctively until I liked what I saw.

  Abstract painting #199, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

Now I'll let this one sit for a few days.

Related articles

How I Became an Abstract Expressionist Painter

New Abstract Painting in Spring Colors

Working in an Abstract Expressionist Mode

A More Austere Palette & Composition

New Abstract Painting in Spring Colors

I still can't get over spring!  Driving, walking, looking out my window--it is all glorious.  Having suffered a long cold winter makes me super appreciateive of this change.  And here it is reflected in my new abstract painting.

  Abstract Painting #198, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

This painting focuses on the light greens, the yellow-greens, and the darker greens.  I used pthalo blue for accents, titanium white for highlights, and brown umber for toning it down.

I began this painting by squeezing blobs of paint from the yellow, blue and green tubes onto my canvas.   Then I painted the background in unbleached titanium--a kind of beige.  

After that, I let my brush go wild swirling the colors together while being careful not to blend them too much.  After that I cleaned my brush and  added titanium white--letting some of it blend and some of it remain pure on the surface.

This kind of painting process is extremely improvisational--you have to stop before you end up with a gray mush.  Yet you have to keep working until you find an image that speaks to you.

 

Related articles

A Change in Style and Color in New Painting

Working in an Abstract Expressionist Mode

Flames of Passion Rise in New Painting

Flames of Passion Rise in New Painting

Loving my cadmium reds and oranges, I used a palette knife to apply them in bold strokes, rising up as if in flames.  I added some alizaron crimson for depth, and some cadmium yellow light above the flames. 

Using a brush, I painted the whole background in parchment, blending it with the other colors around the edges.  Then I brushed on highlights in titanium white.

Next I added touches of pthalo green and burnt umber for contrast and shading.  Then I went back in with the brush and the knife to get the feeling I was looking for. 

  Abstract Painting #196, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

A few days later, I decided more was needed and drew lines in burnt umber.  I used my finger to blend and soften the lines.  I think this painting has more impact now, but time will tell whether I need to work on it again.

  Abstract Painting #196, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Related articles

Working in an Abstract Expressionist Mode

How I Became an Abstract Expressionist Painter

A More Austere Palette & Composition

Just as my bipolar moods swing from high to low, my paintings swing from busy and bright to a more austere palette and composition.  In this latest one, I began by painting the whole canvas in titanium white.

Without waiting for the white to dry, I used a palette knife to make some bold sweeps in mars black.  Because the paint was still wet underneath, the resulting black varied from opaque to blends of gray.

Next I used the knife again to add sections of parchment--a kind of off-white that contrasted with both the white and the black.  Again, it came out solid in places, blended in others.  The trick was to be careful about how and where I placed it. 

I wanted some accidental marks made by serendipity, but by being careful where and how I put the overlaying paint, they were accidents with purpose.

Finally, I drew lines in mars black to tie the disparate sections together. 

 

  Abstract Painting #195, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Related articles

A Change in Style and Color in New Painting

Working in an Abstract Expressionist Mode

Today's Featured Painting: Modern Art Three

MODERN ART THREE

At play in the languid sun.

Original 48" x 48" acrylic painting on canvas requires no frame and is ready to hang - $2300

Limited edition Giclée prints on canvas require no frame and are ready to hang:

15" x 15" - $195

20" x 20" - $275

24" x 24" - $375

30" x 30" - $495

36" x 36" - $650

40" x 40" - $725

44" x 44" - $850

48" x 48" - $950

Free shipping to the U.S. and Canada. For other countries, please request a quote (email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM).

For information and pricing on sizes not listed above, email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM or call 607-273-1364.

Your satisfaction is guaranteed. A painting or print may be returned for any reason within 60 days for a refund or exchange.

Originals will be shipped within 10 days. Please allow 2 weeks for production of a Giclée print.

 

 

Related articles

Modern Art Four - Today's Featured Abstract Painting

Today's Featured Abstract Painting: Tortoise View

Today's Featured Abstract Painting

Six New Abstract Paintings Are Now on My Website

A Change in Style and Color in New Painting

I have given myself permission to try anything these days, since I'm working on small canvases that don't require a huge commitment in time or cost.  In this latest experiment, I changed the style and color palette I normally work with.

First I painted the whole canvas with titanium white--thick enough so that it would blend with the colors I added.  Using a brush, I added small amounts of brighter colors--yellow, orange, green and blue. 

Letting the paint swirl together, the blending with white produced delicate pastel shades.  I added a bit of burnt umber, more white, and continued to blend without completely oblitering the original colors.

Next I drew swirling lines in white, and then added a few in Prussian blue.  The result is very different from most of my work.

  Abstract Painting #193, 20" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Related articles

How I Became an Abstract Expressionist Painter

Final Step in New Green and White Painting?

Working in an Abstract Expressionist Mode

Influenced by George Rouault

The thing I fell in love with in Georges Rouault's painting years ago was the way he outlined shapes in thick black lines.  In desperation, that's what I tried in the last stages of this painting's revision. 

  Canvas #186, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

The last time I worked on this painting, I ended up with a gentle, subdued result that I liked pretty well.  But it didn't have enough pizazz, I decided finally, and so I tackled it again.

I added more color:  cadmium red light, cadmium orange, cobalt teal.  I darkened the pale brown with alizarin crimson and burnt umber.  I also strengthened the whites and pale yellow, making everything much more in your face.

And then I dipped my brush in mars black, imagined I was Rouault, and went at it.

Related articles

Sweeping Changes Made in New Painting Session

Using a Palette Knife in New Acrylic Painting

Revising my New Green and White Painting

Modern Art Four - Today's Featured Abstract Painting

MODERN ART FOUR

Pictograph games.

Original 44" x 44" acrylic painting on canvas requires no frame and is ready to hang - $2100

Limited edition Giclée prints on canvas require no frame and are ready to hang:

15" x 15" - $195

20" x 20" - $275

24" x 24" - $375

30" x 30" - $495

36" x 36" - $650

40" x 40" - $725

44" x 44" - $850

48" x 48" - $950

Free shipping to the U.S. and Canada. For other countries, please request a quote (email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM).

For information and pricing on sizes not listed above, email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM or call 607-273-1364.

Your satisfaction is guaranteed. A painting or print may be returned for any reason within 60 days for a refund or exchange.

Originals will be shipped within 10 days. Please allow 2 weeks for production of a Giclée print.

 

 

Related articles

Six New Abstract Paintings Are Now on My Website

Today's Featured Abstract Painting: Tortoise View

Today's Featured Abstract Painting

Six New Abstract Paintings Are Now On My Website

Sweeping Changes Made in New Painting Session

I let my red white and yellow painting sit for quite a while before I decided it needed more work.  I just wasn't happy with the intense yellow and red. 

I basically toned down all the colors, applying a pale yellow to cover over the bright cadmium yellow I'd originally used.  I also covered over most of the reds, using a bit of orange, but mostly burnt umber.

I also added a pale green and covered up a lot of the original titanium white.  Gradually I subdued the bold in-your-face image with subtle colors and shapes.  My final step was to draw lines with the burnt umber to emphasize certain shapes.

The painting that was there originally shows through a bit, but is not really recognizable.  Now I'll let this one sit and see what I think of it tomorrow.

  Canvas #186, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

 

Related articles

Using a Palette Knife in New Acrylic Painting

Revising my New Green and White Painting

Working in an Abstract Expressionist Mode

Six New Abstract Paintings Are Now on My Website

I recently added six of my new abstract paintings to my website on the gallery page I have reserved for my latest work.  There is always a lag between creating the art and getting it up on my website, but I try to do it after completing six to eight canvases.

When I look at these six paintings, they look quite disparate--without too many resemblances.  They are connected in that I painted them all using a palette knife, but brushwork shows in each as well. 

They are all 24" x 24".  This small size allows me to work quickly and makes it easier for me to experiment.  I don't have to worry about ruining a large, expensive canvas.  And I can try things out on a smaller scale. 

Here are two of the new paintings:

  Modern Art Twenty-Four, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

  Modern Art Twenty-Six, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

 

Related articles

How I Became an Abstract Expressionist Painter

Using a Palette Knife in New Acrylic Painting

Today's Featured Abstract Painting: Tortoise View

TORTOISE VIEW

Not slow, but sequestered in intricate layers.

Original 36" x 36" acrylic painting on canvas requires no frame and is ready to hang - $1550

Limited edition Giclée prints on canvas require no frame and are ready to hang:

10" x 10" - $95

15" x 15" - $195

20" x 20" - $275

24" x 24" - $375

30" x 30" - $495

36" x 36" - $650

40" x 40" - $725

44" x 44" - $850

48" x 48" - $950

Free shipping to the U.S. and Canada. For other countries, please request a quote (email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM).

For information and pricing on sizes not listed above, email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM or call 607-273-1364.

Your satisfaction is guaranteed. A painting or print may be returned for any reason within 60 days for a refund or exchange.

Originals will be shipped within 10 days. Please allow 2 weeks for production of a Giclée print.

 

 

Related articles

Working in an Abstract Expressionist Mode

Today's Featured Abstract Painting

How I Became an Abstract Expressionist Painter

A New Pen and Ink Drawing for Spring

We've been getting snow flurries in April this year, so I had to find my inner spring in order to create this drawing.  It's filled with the color, movement and whimsy I associate with spring.

I began by using all my green calligraphy markers, beginning with the darker hunter green, moving through evergreen, spring green, ocean, teal and lime.  I began by making thick horizontal lines across the paper, with the darker colors on the bottom.

Then I went a little crazy with all kinds of shapes, adding a light orange and intense yellow to the mix.  I thought of a field or meadow, adding spots of color and line here and there, including a light brown, a peach, and rose red.

I made the final fine lines with red and black Kohinoor fine point pens.

  2013 Abstract Drawing #11, 11.5" x 9" acid-free inks on archival paper.

Drawing with Colored Calligraphy Markers

Every now and then I take a break from painting and get out my Zigg memory calligraphy markers.  I love the way the line changes from fat to thin as I sweep the marker across my drawing paper.

I have a set of these markers in 48 different colors, so I can play all day with them, creating a fantasy of movement and color. In the drawing below, I began with a dark brown, but soon brightened it up with shades of arange, tan, yellow, and lilac. 

I began this drawing using the wide nib of the marker. Each one comes with two nibs, and the narrower one is great for detail. 

My final lines were made with a Kohinoor fine point black pen.  I used it to outline shapes as well as to add detail and texture.

 

  2013 Abstract Drawing #10, 11.5" x 9" acid free ink on archival paper.

Today's Featured Abstract Painting

TRIANGLE POSE

In a lyrical wishing to be.

Original 36" x 36" acrylic painting on canvas requires no frame and is ready to hang - $1550

Limited edition Giclée prints on canvas require no frame and are ready to hang:

10" x 10" - $95

15" x 15" - $195

20" x 20" - $275

24" x 24" - $375

30" x 30" - $495

36" x 36" - $650

40" x 40" - $725

44" x 44" - $850

48" x 48" - $950

Free shipping to the U.S. and Canada. For other countries, please request a quote (email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM).

For information and pricing on sizes not listed above, email Lynne@ARTBYLT.COM or call 607-273-1364.

Your satisfaction is guaranteed. A painting or print may be returned for any reason within 60 days for a refund or exchange.

Originals will be shipped within 10 days. Please allow 2 weeks for production of a Giclée print.

 

 

 

Related articles

Subtle Contrasts in New Acrylic Painting

Six New Abstract Paintings Are Now On My Website