The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: Welcome To the Primaries

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Welcome To the Primaries

This painting started with a large (36 x 79) panel, some loud music and a black squeeze bottle. After the lines were finished I took a credit card and pulled the black into the negative space. As soon as it dried I realized that I wanted to keep this painting as minimalistic as possible with very little color. As I applied the red and blue I began to think about the elections, rebublicans and democrats, blue donkeys and red elephants and so on. Hence the use of primary colors and the title "Welcome to the Primaries". This was also my first time to use GOLDEN acrylic paints. The yellow is a single coat over the gesso which is remarkable. I was very impressed to say the least.

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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.