Navigating Abstraction: A Journey Through Color and Texture

As an artist focused on dreams, memories, emotions, and the distortion of clarity over time, I often find myself drawn to creating pieces that blur the lines between the abstract and the figurative. My latest works, "Structural Echoes" and "Fragmented Memory" exemplify this approach, inviting viewers to explore the complex interplay between physical spaces and our perception of them.

As I stand before my easel, brush in hand, I'm never quite sure where the canvas will take me. My recent works, which I've been tentatively calling "Structural Echoes" and "Fragmented Memory," emerged from this place of uncertainty and exploration.

With "Structural Echoes," I began by laying down a ground of warm ochre and titanium white, creating a subtle interplay of light and shadow. As I worked, I found myself drawn to the juxtaposition of cadmium red and payne's gray, the bold strokes cutting through the softer background like city streets through a foggy morning.

My process is intuitive, each layer informing the next. I often incorporate collage elements - in this case, fragments of text that peek through layers of paint. These bits of paper add texture and depth, but also serve as a metaphor for the hidden histories that exist in every urban landscape. As I applied and scraped away paint, I thought about how cities are constantly evolving, always in a state of becoming. I thought about the passage of time, with glimpses of text peeking through like half-forgotten conversations or faded advertisements, constant change, full of overlapping stories and histories.

Moving to " Fragmented Memory” which takes a more introspective turn. I shifted to a more muted palette, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. I started with a base of unbleached titanium, building up layers with naples yellow, venetian red, and touches of ivory black. The softer hues called for a different approach - instead of bold strokes, I found myself working more with palette knives and unconventional tools to create varied textures.

Here, the composition feels more organic, with shapes flowing into one another in a way that mimics how memories often blend and morph in our minds. The central forms suggest a figure or perhaps multiple figures, abstracted to the point where they become universal - allowing viewers to project their own experiences onto the canvas. Traces of text and layered paint techniques add depth, representing the complex nature of how we construct and recall memories over time.

In both pieces, the process of revealing and concealing played a crucial role. I often found myself scraping back through layers of wet paint, allowing underlying colors and textures to emerge. This technique creates a sense of history within the painting itself, mirroring the way our experiences accumulate over time. The visible textures and partially obscured elements invite viewers to look closer, to peel back the layers and construct their own narratives within the artwork.

Through these pieces, I aim to explore how our experiences of places and moments are never truly fixed. They are constantly being reinterpreted, reshaped by new experiences and the passage of time. The abstraction in my work serves as a bridge between the tangible world and our internal landscapes, inviting viewers to explore the spaces where reality, memory, and imagination intersect.

As you engage with "Urban Echoes" and "Fragmented Memories," I encourage you to consider your own experiences of urban spaces and personal memories. What echoes do you hear in the layers of paint? What fragments of your own past do you see reflected in the abstracted forms? Art, like memory, is a collaborative process between creator and viewer, and I look forward to the unique interpretations each of you will bring to these works.