I was working at a higher end art gallery & frame shop, & had taken a brief 4 year respit from painting, to learn the business well, & from trying to make my mark on the world. HA! Toward the end of 2004, we took a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine, third week of October. It was B-E-A-U-T-F-U-L. I’d not uttered that word, that often, before or since. I think it was, in part, the fall colors and light were especially spectacular that year. In any case I began painting some more post impressionist landscapes, some with figures, in oil. I’ve always embraced experimentation in my artwork & have a had a great many influences, from both the living and dead artists club. Before long I was getting in the groove, again. About a year later, a loved one took ill & in a few short months, passed on. During this time, with these things happening simultaneously, I had begun a series of paintings, that would change the direction of my life.
Being the highly sensitive person I am, and with a departure from my regular post impressionist work, I began drawing on some ideas and techniques I began playing with 15 years prior. Cathartically, as a therapy, the drip & splatter beginnings are my way of finding and getting in touch with the rhythms of nature…life. Hence, nearly all my artwork begins with a tonal colored, drip and splatter,base coat of paint. Utilzing acrylic paints, in layered glazes, then incorporating both irridescent & interference paints, that both reflect the color and refract the light, the process becomes a meditaton as the layers are applied. Using primarily earth tone paints, both brush and palette knive were used to create some of the pattern and the more representational aspects of the composition. An abstract with a horizon line, plus both drip & splattered opaque colors were used over the more translucent ones. My emotions were high, when not caring for my friends health, I worked on these artworks, creating 6 pieces in my sorrow and grief. He passed on and I completed the series, soon after.
I suppose the imagery & symbols, are obvious to most. The tree of life, transendence and the oneness of being, all life connected, stardust and collective unconsiousness. Oddly, in hindsite, the image created was one I had concieved when I was about 13, during the passing of another loved one. So, I brought them in to the art gallery, I worked at, all 6 sold in an unsually short time & I was in in awe. My mantra became “Just do it, with pride” and I began daily painting and marketing of my artwork. All of us, everyone of us is worthy of being and doing whatever it is we want from life & there’s an audience for each of us. Time is fleeting, there are no guarnatees. If you have a notion to be someone more then your are now, to create, to dance, to paint, to write, if you have a song in your heart, let it out. The worst that can happen, is you will have created something, the best thing will be that you’ve shared yourself, your humanity with someone else.
Feel free to ask questions or comment,
Richard
‘Transitions 1’ 68”x56” framed acrylic, Sold, in private collection
