Color North

I've been busy innovating my circles... introducing my "floating circle" abstracts! Part of my Circle Series which began with the inaugural Artburst Studios exhibit in early 2023, these abstracts feature single circles on floating and glowing metallic squares. Each circle is individually painted on a square of watercolor paper and then mounted on wood panel.

Inspiration Notes
"Color North" is full of fun color combinations, and my challenge was getting them all just right. I carefully considered my color choices for both the outer and inner circles. And then had more fun arranging the circle-on-squares strategically together on a bright white panel. I purposefully turned some of the circles 90 degrees from the others - you can tell by the silver lines piercing the middle of each circle. Which ones point north?
These floating circles-on-squares catch the light as it changes, the curled, metallic edges glinting as the light (or viewer) moves.
 
I sometimes find painting inspiration from within my own creative process as I further explore the geometric shapes that I love. Each abstract I painted for An Unexpected Twist is part of this inspiration that I found in me, rather than externally from my usual inspiration sources in the landscapes of our world. Experimentation has been the foundation of much of my work and the techniques I've developed over the past twenty years. The need to continue experimenting keeps me at my studio table as I combine paper, brush, oil and water, color, air, surface tension and gravity for each abstract.

 
More about my Circle Series
My Circle Series began when I was invited to join Artburst Studios in late 2022. The theme of the inaugural exhibit included "upside down”. So, after nearly 20 years of painting mostly square and linear abstracts, I endeavored to turn my abstracts upside down, choosing yet another perfect shape: circles. Like all my abstracts, my Circle abstracts are inspired by the colors and shapes of the urban and rural terrains I've discovered on my travels throughout North America and Europe. I also find inspiration in the circles present all around us — whether made by man or nature. Did you know one of the most perfectly circular shapes scientists have observed in nature is our own Sun? How can I not be inspired by that ever-present orb?

So, I'm rather spellbound as I continue my circle-painting process that I've developed over the past two years. Each Circle painting is layers of oil paint and metallic watermedia on paper. I start with painting my circle shapes, having found the best circle-making tool to be PVC pipe connectors of varying sizes. I apply oil paints to the rim of the pipe connectors and stamp the circle shapes on paper followed by layers of my own unique mix of pure metallic pigments and a watercolor binder. At just the right moment, I scrape the metallic top layer back off, revealing the oil layers and further melding all of the layers together. Finally, I mount the paper on panel and apply a protective oil or resin varnish.