The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: September 2012

Monday, September 17, 2012

CERN #3 Protons Colliding - 32 x 36 x 1.5 - 450.00 US

Here it is at last, springtime in Switzerland and the protons have finally collided at very near the speed of light. Thankfully I did not experience a singularity or black hole formation or else it would have swallowed up our newly remodeled kitchen as I painted this in the dining room where the light was better. Look closely for quarks and bosons, Mr. Higgs is in there somewhere I am sure of it. Have you ever read the book Blasphemy by Douglas Preston? It is a good read and I recommend it if you like scientific facts mixed with your fiction. As you can see I have surrendered to the power of pure abstract expressionism in these paintings and I must say that it is very liberating. You have to be careful here as the smallest amount of form or illustration can be perceived as being "contrived" and we don't need that in a work that is supposed to be purely uninhibited. My credit card paint application device broke in half part way through this painting. I hope the AMEX sales staff gets on the ball and sends me a new one soon....

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.