Category: Abstract Art

  • Seizing. Benjamin Britton.

    Seizing. Benjamin Britton.

    We know that we have at least three months here in Southeastern Idaho.  But we are now into Autumn and the season can be short lived at the higher elevations where we most want to explore.  So Mr. F and I have been up before the sun each Saturday to drive up to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, to seize the opportunity to explore before the snows set in.

    Benjamin Britton | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Benjamin Britton | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Benjamin Britton | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Benjamin Britton | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Benjamin Britton | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart

    In each new place we find ourselves, there is a sense of urgency to see as much of the area as possible, for we never know if or when we’ll be back that way again.  It creates in us a habit of seeking out the best in each place, of seizing every opportunity.  Every time we are surprised by the locals who hardly ever venture out, who’ve never even heard of places we’ve been in their own backyard.  I hope that even when we settle down, this sense of urgency to explore will never wane.

    In his work, Georgia based artist Benjamin Britton is “making paintings which foreground an experience of the senses, and where moments of adventure and wonder are privileged over other moments.”  May they always be so.

    To see more of Benjamin Britton‘s work, please visit his website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Space.  Tom Climent.

    Space. Tom Climent.

    Now that we are settled in for the next three months in Idaho Falls, we’ve been exploring the surrounding area every weekend.  This part of Idaho is a close neighbor to Wyoming and Montana, Big Sky country.  That hemmed in feeling that we’d been experiencing in the Bay Area seems like a far away memory when standing in the middle of a Yellowstone valley, with only the bison for company.

    Tom Climent | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Tom Climent | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Tom Climent | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Tom Climent | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Tom Climent | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart

    These paintings by Irish painter Tom Climent “reminds us of how our spatial ability becomes spatial knowledge as we navigate our world and with this knowledge we create a place for ourselves.”  Most of us have it within our control to decide what our place in this world looks like.  The places we occupy, whether permanently or just for a time, effect our psyche, offering chaos or peace.

    To see more of Tom Climent‘s work, please visit his website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Screens.  Chris Trueman.

    Screens. Chris Trueman.

    In my new little studio ( I do mean little, it’s about 50 square feet ), I have a lovely view of treetops and rooftops in our neighborhood.  The sunsets from the west facing windows are often spectacular and I would love to capture them from my roost, but there’s a bit of a problem.  Screens.  The window screens allow for leaving the windows open without risking bugs coming in, but they get in the way of clear vision.

    Chris Trueman | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Chris Trueman | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Chris Trueman | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Chris Trueman | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Chris Trueman | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart

    The abstract paintings of California artist Chris Trueman with their undulating layers bring to mind the view through veiled cover.

    To see more of Chris Trueman‘s work, please visit the website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Swept. Angelina Nasso.

    Swept. Angelina Nasso.

    As a Florida girl, the warnings in California to “never turn your back on the ocean” took some getting used to.  But as I soon learned, Pacific waves are much more unpredictable than their Atlantic cousins.  A rogue wave could sneak up on shore and sweep you out to sea when you least expect it.

    And so it goes with most everything else.  It is easy to get swept away– by emotion, by anger, by busyness.  Sometimes being swept up is a good thing, what is better than being caught up in the arms of someone you love?  Or loosening your grip in order to be more free?

    Angelina Nasso | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Angelina Nasso | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Angelina Nasso | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Angelina Nasso | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Angelina Nasso | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart

     

    These paintings by New York based artist Angelina Nasso reminded me of that feeling of being swept up, of loosing our grip on control, for better or worse.

    To see more of Angelina Nasso‘s work, please visit the Winston Wachter website.

    All images are via the Winston Wachter Seattle website.

  • Realities. Matthew Stone.

    Realities. Matthew Stone.

    A while back, I posed a question on Instagram asking whether other artists prefer to tweeze out random brush hairs from their paintings or just allow them to exist as part of the painting process.  Results were split between those that like a perfect surface and those that just live and let live.

    UK artist Matthew Stone falls into the former category, his process involves photoshopping our imperfections of his paintings on glass, then printing the resulting digital images on wood panels, mirror, and acrylic.

    Mattew Stone | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Mattew Stone | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Mattew Stone | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Mattew Stone | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart Mattew Stone | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart

     

    Like my social media followers, I’m a bit split.  I love a wonderfully perfect surface but at the same time I like the idea of allowing the entire process to show, even the imperfections.  It’s a bit like the way we live our lives, isn’t it?  Do we let others in on the little errors and missteps or do we present a perfectly rendered facade, only allowing those closest to us to see the blemishes?

    To see more of Matthew Stone‘s work, please visit his website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Building. A Ruiz Villar.

    Building. A Ruiz Villar.

    Creating anything from scratch is a difficult endeavor.  If the foundation of what you’re building isn’t secure, it will never be sound, it won’t be what you planned for, what you dreamed of.

    These mixed media pieces by Barcelona artist A Ruiz Villar with their structural emphasis, remind me of what we build up for ourselves.

    A Ruiz Villar | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart

    A Ruiz Villar | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart

    A Ruiz Villar | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart

    A Ruiz Villar | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart

    A Ruiz Villar | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart

     

    To see more of A Ruiz Villar‘s work, please visit his website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.  Artist found via Saatchi.

  • Changes. Elyce Abrams.

    Changes. Elyce Abrams.

    Life doesn’t stand still.  It is constantly moving, constantly changing.  Some lives changing more so and more often than others.  If our lives aren’t in some sort of state of transition, we aren’t growing and what is the point?

    Philadelphia artist Elyce Abrams began a new series of work following the birth of her son, interpreting the changes found in her new reality.

    Elyse Abrams | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Elyse Abrams | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Elyse Abrams | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Elyse Abrams | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Elyse Abrams | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart

    I feel on the precipice of big change.  Like Abrams work, right now, there are sections of my life that are butting up against each other and I’m left feeling pulled in too many different directions.  I’ve had some exciting things happening lately and with those opportunities comes more responsibility, more pressure. As I add to my whole, something else may need to give way, to become smaller so that this new portion has room to grow.  Sorry to be so cryptic, but change and transition is weighing on my mind heavily today and Abrams’ paintings spoke perfectly to my state of thought.

    To see more of Elyce Abrams‘ work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Release. Conn Ryder.

    Release. Conn Ryder.

    I think most artists would tell you that there is a build up of ideas, of creativity that happens within us, until we feel as if we might burst if we don’t get it out.  Or conversely, if we let it build up too long without ablution, we might deflate like a slow leaking balloon.

    In her expressive abstract paintings, Colorado artist Conn Ryder releases her own emotional responses to the experiences of life.

    Conn Ryder | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Conn Ryder | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Conn Ryder | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Conn Ryder | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart Conn Ryder | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings #abstractart

     

    Caught in that built up feeling is where I am right now.  We spent last Saturday hiking in the Grand Tetons and Sunday driving up through the mountains, gazing at waterfalls, marveling at the enormity of the sky, and glimpsing black bears.  The inspiration is building and I feel like I’m ready to burst.  But other responsibilities have been getting in the way.  It’s something I need to work on, to work out, to find a way to do it all, to get it all out.

    To see more of Conn Ryder‘s work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Structures. Howard Hersh.

    Structures. Howard Hersh.

    hover over the photo above then click through for a peek into the artist’s studio

    We live our lives in and within structures.  From the house we call home, to the universe itself, to our very bodies, structure has a crucial role to play in every aspect of our lives.

    San Francisco artist Howard Hersh is exploring the dualities of structure simultaneously in his two series, Dispositions of Structure ( encaustics on panel ) and Skin Deep ( acrylic on birch and basswood ).

    Howard Hersh | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart #paintings Howard Hersh | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart #paintings Howard Hersh | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart #paintings Howard Hersh | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart #paintings Howard Hersh | artsy forager #art #artists #abstractart #paintings

    His series of encaustics on panel, Dispositions of Structure are paintings about structure— physical, social, intellectual structures as well as the natural architecture of the universe.  Skin Deep, on the other hand, are structures about painting— explorations into the idea that of the existence of the painting not just as a depiction of an object but as an object itself.

    The connections and fluctuations in his shapes, the way they seem to move in and out, backward and forward make me think of how dependent we are on those structures in our lives.  Societal structures such as laws and mores keep us safe and our base instincts in check while we rely on the health of our bodily structures to keep us alive.  One type of structure doesn’t do much good without the other.

    To see more of Howard Hersh‘s work, please visit his website.  Howard was kind enough to invite Mr. F and I to tour his studio.  Be sure to click through the studio tour at the top of the page!

    All images are via the artist’s website.

  • Piecing. Tessa Greene O’Brien.

    Piecing. Tessa Greene O’Brien.

    As Mr. F and I travel, we are in search of a place to call home.  In each new spot, we find something that we love. If we could, we would piece together our favorite breakfast place from Idaho, the farmer’s market in Southern Oregon, the hippie vibe of Joshua Tree, and the art scene of Seattle and plop them all down in the midst of high, snow-covered mountains to create that one, perfect spot.

    The paintings of Tessa Greene O’Brien, with their pieced together, collage-like feel remind me of how every place is the sum of its parts.

    Tessa Greene O'Brien | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Tessa Greene O'Brien | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Tessa Greene O'Brien | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Tessa Greene O'Brien | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Tessa Greene O'Brien | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings

     

    I love the way O’Brien distills her abstracted landscapes down to simple shapes and forms.  Every place has its issues, its complications, but just like falling in love with a person, falling in love with a place means you overlook the minor imperfections and focus on the larger beauties.

    To see more of Tessa Greene O’Brien‘s work, please visit her website.

    All images are via the artist’s website.