Saturday, June 14, 2008

Abstract Art with Ben Darrah

WIP or just process? (32" X 45)

Monday evenings are taken up with a trek to our local community college to join in Ben Darrah's abstract art class. We are using acrylics, loose canvas and found materials. Ben's approach to working on unprimed and unstretched canvas is new to me and quite a revelation. Likely oil paints would not be quite so forgiving and flexible but travelling to class with your painting rolled or folded up is a boon. The raw canvas soaks up the washes and has a tendency to shrink a lot so I have now learned to prewash or account for shrinkage if I'm going for a specific size. As the canvas is not stretched, one can crop and stretch it later to best fit the compostion.

The piece above is an example of the loose canvas and the class in which we painted to music. I was listening to Buddha Bar, my favourite all purpose dining, painting, working music. As we are focusing on process rather than product, ie playing and exploring, I am free to take this further or flip it over and reuse the canvas for something else...
Maybe it should go like this? -

4 comments:

Silverbear said...

When viewing a painting, my eye searches for recognizable shapes and forms. Abstract art has always been a bit of a challenge.
You must have had fun doing this one while listening to your fav mood music.
It is a bright "warm" piece. The colours -which convey the "warm brown fuzzies" - reinforce each other. And it reminds me of a time I spent in a sugar shack years ago sampling the warm maple syrup. It would be interesting to know why you chose this particular colour combination.
It is quite soothing - must be a reflection of the contemplative theme of the music you were high on.

Inspiroto / Artmosphere said...

Abstract art is a challenge! As a viewer one may need to react emotionally rather than intellectually as one initially does with representative art. There is no "hook" ie a tree, face etc so the abstract piece may say nothing or say a lot. Of course the artist needs to to create something that is evocative. Rothko's work left me cold until I actually saw one up close and personal. It was a moving experience. Others in the gallery just glanced and moved on. Like music, not everyone responds to the same work.

Anonymous said...

Buddah Bar...Kitaro...both easy listening. George.

Anonymous said...

Hi Hennie, I am enjoying the movement and your choice of colours. Lovely work! I am reminded of a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, with pulp, I love the pulp. I loved the galleries & museums in Holland, I visited during the 2002 Floriade (world horticulture exhibition) Cheers! CarolC