The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: March 2012

Friday, March 2, 2012

"Precept Upon Precept" - 38.5" x 72" - Acrylic (Diptych) - 1200.00 US

There is a passage in Isaiah that reads as follows: "Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" This verse speaks to the way we learn. Knowledge is not given all at once, but instead we learn slowly and progressively. We build on previous successes and we also learn from our mistakes. We start with a foundation and then build upon it. This is the given process whether growing in worldly knowledge or in spiritual wisdom. We lay a foundation then start adding layers. This painting is a representation of that process. Layer upon layer of paint, building to the finished painting. You will notice that I kept the color pallet to a minimum which is always difficult for me! I wanted the structure to speak more than the color in this piece but that yellow still has quite a voice... The numbers and symbols represent the contribution mathematics and language have had upon our ability to grow intelectually. I believe they represent the "blocks" with which all of our learning experiences are built with. Will we build wisely? If we allow God to become our foundation and build upon Him, then the answer is yes...

"Guardians of Peace" 40" x 10' 8" Acrylic on four wooden door panels

I created this piece specifically for show at the Driskill Gallery on the SBU campus in Bolivar, MO. The painting (all 11 feet of it...) is now hanging and the reception for this opening is tonight! I intially started this piece with the idea that it would grow over time by adding new panels to the ends or even above or below to create a scrabble board type effect. I still like that concept but maybe not for this particular painting as it sort of took on a life of its own during the creative process and ended up turning into something I had not anticipated but have decided to live with! The title all started with the dove (yes, that is a dove...) in the second panel from the left. Then as figures started to emerge I saw them as watchers or guardians; maybe even as angels checking out whats happening down here and occasionally protecting us from ourselves and helping us salvage what little "peace" we have left. This is my largest painting to date and I look forward to creating even larger work in the future.

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.