Thinking about process

 

 I like thinking about the artmaking process. Why do artists prefer one medium over another? Why do certain shapes reappear again and again in painting or drawings? How does artmaking evolve over time for individual artists?

I play around with patterns that I can plug into my paintings as little snippets of visual information.  I’m curious about how and why people respond to different patterns and colors when they look at paintings, drawings, fabrics–basically any kind of design that is used to illuminate, guide, decorate, or illustrate. For me, patterns create order, but I like order that is starting to disintegrate because the patterns aren’t perfectly executed. The colors might be a bit unusual, the edges a bit rough, and pieces might be missing.

The great thing about quick sketches with oil pastels is that I can use them to explore different ways to combine colors, shapes, and marks. From them I get ideas for paintings or I may cut them up to use in collages. Building a “library” of ideas and images is great for those times when I am a little stuck…and need some inspiration.