The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: Ascending Into the Blue 20"x28"x3" - Acrylic on repurposed wooden shipping crate - $275.00

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Ascending Into the Blue 20"x28"x3" - Acrylic on repurposed wooden shipping crate - $275.00 - SOLD

This is an acrylic 20 x 28 that I painted on an old shipping crate that is about 3 inches deep. In the early days of abstract expressionism some artists (Franz Kline, Gerhard Richtor, Pollock) started making a big impact on the viewer by painting very large pieces of art. Some artists rebelled against this stating that they felt they could achieve the same effect with much smaller paintings (some less than 20") by simply controlling the scale of the images in the work. These small abstract works later became known as "suitcase paintings" and are still on display and very popular today. I will confess that I am drawn to looking at as well as creating large pieces of art. However, large pieces do not always suit the needs of the collector due to either space or budgetary constraints. So here is my attempt (along with CERN #1, #2, Untitled and Rush Hour) to create my own version of an abstract suitcase painting.

No comments:

Post a Comment

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.