The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: December 2010

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.

Mainstream Effect

Here is a piece that I just finished last night, Dec 27, 2010. It is called "Mainstream Effect" and is a simple exercise in line and color. This painting is acrylic on masonite and it measures 36" x 48". There is no sub-story to this painting. (Well there is but it is an inside joke so I will keep it to myself) It is only meant to be colorful, vibrant and hopefully stimulating to the senses. As you can see, this is not my normal style. What I learned from painting this piece is that it is difficult to "let go" and let the brush strokes and blending stay organic. As much as I wanted to keep it loose, I found myself smoothing, straightening, adjusting and so on. As an adult it is difficult to color outside of the lines. So perhaps this painting is a message to grown ups (Grups for you Star Trek fans) that sometimes we all need to loosen up a bit and not be so demanding of ourselves and of our friends and families. Lighten up and remember that love and beauty are not found in perfection, but in our ability to see beyond our imperfections.

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.