The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: Green With Envy

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Green With Envy

The evolution of my splatter paintings continue. Thankfully is does not take millions of years and yes, I am a creationist and think Darwin while brilliant, was wrong. These paintings started over 30 years ago in an attic studio with sheets nailed up to keep the mess down to a minimum. My very first splatter painting was made with watercolors and a spoon so you can imagine that "over spray" was a real issue. Today I have switched to acrylic washes and much more subtle ways of applying the paint to the watercolor paper. I control the shapes of the "splotches" with air from a straw. These paintings are very cathartic to me and I thoroughly enjoy the hunt for all the creatures among the splatters. I have also begun to experiment with various background effects. The green background in this painting was created with a sponge. I am hoping to one day create a super sized version of these paintings but with all of the detail it could take a while to complete. In "Green With Envy" The disembodied eyes represent the human element (us) traveling though the chaos of life (the splatter creatures) and trying to find contentment with what we have instead of wishing for what other people have instead. This can be a real effort and the struggle can leave us weary as represented by the partially closed eyes of the traveler. I hope you, my reader, have found peace and contentment in your journey through life.

1 comment:

dbartsy13November 24, 2015 at 1:39 PM
What are the dimensions of the painting?
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Artist Bio

Born in Oklahoma, John Payne began drawing and painting at the age of six. Though educated and involved in the arts well into college, his life and career path drastically changed when he enlisted into the United States Nuclear Navy at the age of 21. As a submariner, chemist and nuclear plant operator, safety became an integral part of his daily life. After leaving the Navy he followed a similar path working in radiation/chemical safety and ultimately as an Environmental Health and Safety Manager for over 20 years before returning full time to his passion as an artist. John is motivated by the works of the mid-century expressionists and current abstract artists alike. While some of John's work is pure expressionism, many of his pieces are more ordered in their chaos. This effort to control the abstraction with a sense of “boundaries” is reminiscent, states the artist, of the efforts we all make to live passionately while still attempting to conform to moral and social responsibilities. John’s work is thought provoking and often littered with social and philosophical commentary. As a Navy veteran John has traveled across the USA and to other countries as well, experiencing sights and cultures which have served as inspiration to his work. After 20+ years of working in the corporate world with art as his hobby, John has recently abandoned “the grind” to pursue his work as an artist in earnest. He offers that the decision was not only overdue but "very liberating". John lives in Springfield, Missouri with his wife Pattie and two dogs.