The Fall Suite of Retrospective, Painted Canvas Collages, 2011.

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This group of fourteen, 40 x 30 inch canvases  was so named because they were completed in the Fall of 2011.

They are the forerunning group of collages which begin the employment of larger, often central painted areas , with bands of pre painted collage,, that become the theme for the final group of 60 x 48 inch Extra Large Collages, 2011. 

I start with the bands of collage and add, paint in colour which enhances the pre painted collage. The increased size allows me more possibility to open the space in the paintings and give the individual work enhanced characteristics through the colour of these generally larger areas of one colour. You can see the beginnings of this opening up of the central field of colour in some of  the smaller, 14 x 11 inch, Suite One Eleven, 2011 which were also completed in November 2011.

My compositional tendencies were influenced by the characteristics of the collage I had on hand, and range from a multi banded compositions of similar width, to the more open compositions with fewer bands, and larger areas of painted colour. This opening up of the middle of the picture became the predominate 'motif ' of the larger and generally later works.  I have chosen a vertical banded composition because it provides a more equivocal balance as opposed to the top bottom pejorative character of the horizontal landscape composition. In the Armory Suite Collages, 2002 I explored a more varied compositional theme using a mix of vertical, diagonal, curvature and some horizontal elements. Each group of works presents its own possibilities. I am guided by the  'highs' of my past work to inspire me.

I have no rules and simply follow my eye and attempt to unify pictorially whatever I do.   This means using all the principles of the tradition of painting that I have summoned over many years of painting.  But the ultimate end is that the work, other than having pictorial unity, is that it should have an uplifting character that sustains my interest. While most of my work does focus on the uplifting side of expression I do deny the darker side of the human expression in some works ,which may stem from the characteristics and colour combinations I discover.  In the end all my works must have a depth of feeling, whatever their characteristics but it is true that, I do not  dwell on the negative characteristics of life.  I want my art to bring a little joy into a world which is full of strife and hardship for so many.