As I learn more about acrylic painting, I feel the urge to experiment with different styles. Part of this is my attempt to find my niche, if I have one. Many artists seem to find the style and subject matter that suits them and they stick with that. Some are landscape and still-life painters. Others like using shape and texture-based abstracts. There are others that only due portraits. I get it. You find something you’re good at and you want to stay in that groove.
A part of me wants that, as well, but at the same time, I don’t like to limit myself. I’m the same way with my fiction. I like to read a broad range of genres and styles, so why not try them myself? I may write good stories in a certain genre, for example, but that doesn’t mean I can’t write in another. Even if the story is awful, at least I stepped outside of my comfort zone.
Recently, I was inspired by Picasso. Particularly, his use of thicker lines and bold color choices. I wasn’t interested in mimicking him. I just wanted to use his style as a starting point and see where the brushes and colors would take me.
I painted a series of four canvases, attempting to do something different each time. One is arguably closer to Picasso than the others, but I still strove to be original and work with my own ‘voice’.
This first one was simply improvisation. I drew random lines and shapes on the canvas (12 inches by 12 inches), then picked random colors to fill in the blanks. I also used a few fluorescent colors to give it a little more ‘pop’. I like how it turned out, but my partner liked it even more. It’s currently hanging in our bedroom.
This next painting was inspired by the time I spent growing up around Hollywood Beach in South Florida. It’s a place that is special to me and I still occasionally dream of returning there. There are probably nicer beaches in the world, but this one has a particular vibe I’ve never found anywhere else. I was going for a definite abstract feel with it and I’m happy with how it turned out.
The following painting is another almost purely abstract work. I wanted to do something representing a flower, then drew semi-circles for the background. As an experiment, I think it works, but it’s something I’ll revisit in the future and see what I can do differently. Still, I do like the colors.
And finally, the one that I think is most inspired by Picasso. This is my partner, my muse. I used colors that I feel represent her, her moods, and her personality. I titled it, ‘A Complicated Woman’. Another experiment that took on a life of its own as I painted it.
I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into my work.
RB
These remind me of my own past experiments of blending Mondrian’s style flavored with psychedelic record album art. Yours comes off better than mine.
Thank you for the kindness, Swabby. Now that you mention it, I do think some album art influence seeped into these pieces. Cheers!