The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: August 2011

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

"Aquifer #2" - 40" x 28" x 1.5" - Acrylic - 435.00 US

Number two in the "geological" painting series. This one utilized much bolder colors than Aquifer #1 and I have added bluish glass beads to the water layer for a texture effect and to pick up the light better. This piece reminds me of southwest desert landscapes, especially those of Arizona and New Mexico. This may be the most "orderly" abstract painting that I have ever created. Some of the rocks are very realistic and yet the abstraction comes forth as I attempt to portray my perception of what a raging underground river might actually look like if we could see it.

"Aquifer #1" 50" x 36" x 1.5" - Acrylic - 695.00 US

This is the first in a series of "geological" paintings. I won't even attempt to catagorize it except to say that it is abstracted reality. Of course, many would say that all abstract art starts with something, therefore, all abstract art is abstracted reality. Problem solved... I am very intrigued by what lies beneath us. One of my favorite movies as I was growing up, was "Journey To the Center of the Earth" (the original one with Pat Boone). I still like to explore caves and look at rocks and wonder about their journey. Underground rivers or aquifers are very interesting to me. Some of them are very large and flow for great distances before erupting from the earths surface as a spring of what is usually very fresh and pure water. Somehow they remind me of the earths arterial system if you can image that. (Hmmmmm... Living water??) For those who are interested, this piece was created using a sponge to apply the color field, a small squeeze bottle for the cracks and a small foam brush to "dab" in the metallic jewels under the water. The water was poured onto the panel in layers to create a more organic look though it is hard to see the layers in this photo. The painting is coated with two layers of liquitex acrylic gloss varnish.

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.