Revolving Silhouette Inside a Buttercup Sundrop

Often I am asked how I begin a painting and this changes greatly from piece to piece. The beginning is always uneasy, unsure, and exciting. Sometimes my work begins with splashes of watery paint where other times it is inspired by a specific image or system. Either way I begin, balancing intuitive and analytical processes is important in all stages of my painting process. This piece was inspired in part by remnants of a traveling carnival ride. It was exciting to imagine the underbelly and architecture of a form that is usually covered with colored lights and vivid colors. During painting process the original silhouette shifts and changes through automatic drawing and the form becomes something else altogether. In my work, I try to blend a variety of systems, as this is the main concept that motivates it. Buttercup flowers are poisonous when eaten by livestock fresh and however when buttercups dry the flower is not as potent. The vivid color yellow is nature’s way of indicating poison. It is interesting how this potency changes when the flower dries and the color fades. Buttercups were also the flower that bloomed all around my parent’s house on my wedding day so I have a strong personal connection.

I had a conversation with an art gallery patron about an artist’s work who I greatly admire. The patron told me they did not like yellow and therefore they did not like the piece this artist created. The patron walked over to another piece and exclaimed; “Now this piece I like!” This struck me as really odd and I remember thinking that ‘yellow’ is strange a reason not to like something. Both pieces were strong visually but still managed speak in a unique way. Perhaps the bias in this conversation is that in being a painter myself I have a certain intimacy with all colors. Engaging in a work of art is a very personal thing and I too am very particular. This conversation stuck with me and I have wanted to make a yellow piece ever since this time. I wonder if there is any sort of parallel in natural systems of color and human reaction to color. Regardless, I am in LOVE with yellow and plan to use it again.