Last Pieces of 2018

I've always struggled with titling abstract work because I don't want the title to reference anything specific, anything that could lead the viewer to see something in the piece. I want the viewer to create their own journey, to ask questions and to leave their mind to continue thinking about the work. I've noticed other artists struggle with the same issue. Some artist simply refuse to title the work, others number their art. I've tried various things, including randomly picking words out of the dictionary, using unrelated song titles, or various other techniques I've abandoned. With this group I decided that abstract words would be an appropriate compliment to the work -- that is, I created my own words that people can assign any meaning they want to them.

These first two pieces are similar to a sculptural painting I made a couple of years ago, Stage Fright. 

Gasulimini

acrylic, graphite, and shellac on board

30" x 36.5"

2018

Gasulimini (closeup)

Tinnatious

acrylic, graphite, and shellac on board

16" x 34.5"

2018

Tinnatious (closeup) 

Queshiol

acrylic, gesso, and shellac on board

12" x 16"

2018

Rinipali was influenced by the work of Odili Donald Odita whose paintings I've been seeing and admiring.

Rinipali

acrylic, graphite, and shellac on board

12" x 32"

2018

Rinipali (closeup)

Most all of my work is experimental but these last two pieces were particularly so. I was just playing around with the underpainting of both, experimenting with small abstract amorphous designs. I was never completely happy with them but I took the time to flattened and polish them with shellac anyway. After a few months of looking at them I painted some zigzags freehand on top. 

Loitium

acrylic, gesso, and shellac on board

12" x 13.5"

2018 

Tutalio

acrylic, gesso, and shellac on board

12" x 13.5"

2018