On the Breeze

13 in x 21 in,

1/26

How does one paint “air”?  This is an attempt at doing so.  I thought of the wind, air currents and a gentle atmosphere when I made this painting.  In contrast to most of my geometric work, I did not use a masking technique here.  Rather, I lay down texture with modeling paste, applying it in swoops that reminded me of air movement.  Once dried, I applied various whites and very light pastels of blue, pink and lavender to imagine the “colors of the wind”.  Lastly, I added interference blue in small areas to give a dichroic feel to the piece (at least up close and in person) and finally some clear glass beads to provide some sparkle.   The result is a painting that reads as a quiet, atmospheric abstraction that evokes a gentle breeze, using texture and a muted, nearly monochrome palette to create a sense of gentle movement.​ There is no single area that shouts for attention; instead, the whole field glows softly, creating an overall atmosphere rather than a focal point.​  I suppose this piece can be thought of in the realm of abstract minimalism, where suggestion replaces depiction, emotion is carried through nuance rather than contrast, and the overall mood is contemplative and meditative, the way one might consider the breeze over the course of a quiet day.​