Breaking Constraints: A Patchwork of Contrasts

Discovering the possibilities is part of the magic of creating artwork. Letting go enough to be open to the possibilities is not something that always came so easily for me. With all of the constraints placed on me during adolescence, I often had difficulty expressing myself creatively. So much of myself was hidden away that I didn't know how to let go. This continued into early adulthood, but it began to break apart as I found my way back to art. In my previous piece, which I would call an "instinctive" piece, I broke through another constraint by experimenting with the possibilities of combining paint and collage. This next piece, which was very much an "intentional" piece, would find me delving further into that realm of possibilities. 

At the time this was created, I was nearing the end of a relationship. I was focused on the consequence of choices and actions while simultaneously meditating on the polar opposites (or contrasts) in all people and how those opposites guide us through those choices and actions. Where those vary from one person to the next is in how we respond to those opposites in our lives-- the positive and negative, the dark and light, the smooth and rough. Therein lies the uniqueness of our own experiences, through which is woven:

"A Patchwork of Contrasts"

Like its predecessor, "A Patchwork of Contrasts" was made by layering acrylic and watercolor paint. Applying thick layers of acrylic paint allowed for creating movement. Dicing up the finished painting and rearranging the pieces into a patchwork gave way to even more movement within the piece. The title revealed itself as the last piece of the puzzle fell into place.

Featured in this post: A Patchwork of Contrasts
All current artwork can be found in my profile at Fine Art America. Thank you for your time and your support.