The Abstract Realism of Life.

Paintings, Thoughts, 16 Comments
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Do we see all that is in front of us, or just what we assume we see?

Wonder II is an abstract painting in technique and creation. However, by only adding a limited amount of shadowing to create a shoreline, it appears to be a view from across a pond in the late days of the fall season. I find this pretty interesting. My mind continues to register realism, but the painting is completely abstract. I know this, because I painted it.

I like this description of Abstract Realism; “…exploration of the pure exuberance of paint with just enough imagery to deem it realistic.” (Sherri McGraw).

So, how much of life around me am I aware of in each moment?

Detail Section – Wonder II

Creativity inspires me to wonder, and I wonder if we perceive life on a moment by moment basis, through unconscious assumptions. What we see…. may not be all that is available to be seen in the moment, and we may be missing so much of all that is truly around us. If this were true, then are we missing the information about whole truth by assuming we know the truth?

Perhaps our assumptions, or mental constructs do not allow us to see beyond them, and fully register what is actually right in front of us in every moment. What if the whole truth was available to us in each moment, if WE were fully present in each moment? If we were not thinking a few minutes ahead, or thinking about what just happened in the past, would we find ourselves without any anxiety? Would we be filled with a knowingness and with that, a peacefulness  in each moment?

Wonder II is acrylic on untreated linen, 20″ x 36″. The entire creative process consisted of adding splatters of paint, layer by layer in a rhythmic motion. Each additional layer created a “resist” for the next layer to follow. Finally I scraped all of the paint off and what was left had stained deeply into the linen. Then I added some highlights with oil pastel and washed in a shoreline.

This painting reminds me how a peaceful place can be found in the pure presence of each moment.

— Thank you

 

 

  4. Excellent painting!
    I’ve been teaching art for many decades, and the first thing I ask is to learn seeing. Most people do not really see anything and some do not see anything at all.
    Once somebody needs to draw a tree, for instance, they sort of start paying attention to it and start noticing, otherwise, no, people do not see much.
    Perception is a very individual thing. Perception is unique to everyone of us, just like the individual features of our eyesight, actually.
    It is probably not reasonable to expect somebody else perceiving everything exactly the same way we do. That’s where subconscious and conscious minds meet and this interaction produces the results we are experiencing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I LOVE your comment and information! Thank you so much for the excellent interpretation, I am grateful. Again, I thank you, and hope you add your valuable comments in the future!

      Like

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