Abstract Expressionism Layers

Some of my artistic influencers have been expressionist painters like Vincent Van Gogh and JMW Turner...abstract expressionist painters like Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner...and mixed media artists like Rick Bartow and James Castle. I'm also influenced by my fellow contemporary abstract expressionist artists and collage artists that I've viewed at various galleries around the world and on social media. Their work is very different from each other but one  thing they all have in common is their use of layers. Their mark making is intuitive. They work in layers applying color with various mediums utilizing texture, abstract shapes, and emotive action that express story with what they paint. This is the heart of expressionism. This is also what I do.

Here is some documentation of the abstract expressionist mixed media collage layering process with the canvas that was on my easel today....

Stage one of mark making...

Graphite pencil sketching.

and charcoal sketching. 

Stage two of mark making. 

Latex house paint and acrylic paint brush work.

More layers of brushwork.

And more layers of brushwork.

Stage three of mark making.

Layering with more sketching and brushwork.

And more sketching and brushwork...creating definition.

Stage four of mark making.

Brushwork and sketching creating top layers of action and emotion.

Stage five of mark making.

Splattering of paint.

Stage six of mark making.

This is the focal image for the painting...pomegranates on a round table. I printed out 3 different images of pomegranates in black and white and pasted them together. I also printed out a round table top in black and white. I brushed on matte medium to protect the paper and ink. Then I painted with acrylic paint on top of them to bring some color to the imagery. 

And here's the story for this painting...

Gather: Taste and See

c. 2018 Lisa Marten

24x30 mixed media on canvas

(graphite, charcoal, chalk pastel, acrylic paint, latex house paint, paper, ink, matte medium)

$636

This painting is all about being welcome to the table...communion in community. This is us...friends, strangers, allies, enemies, races, genders, religions, ideologies, economic backgrounds, nations, cultures...humans...experiencing the same hunger, the same needs, the same feelings, the same hopes and joys, and the same pain and sorrow...we are all welcome to gather around the and share together. The big question...when given the choice, can we let go of our differences to sit next to each other and listen to one another with caring hearts over open conversation together...can we share who we are, what we have, our experiences and where we're going with each other...in true communion. The pomegranate is an ancient symbol prosperity and fruitfulness. It's also a spiritual symbol of brokenness and resurrection. In Christian tradition it's a symbol of God's uncontrolling Love for us. This painting is all about the Love freely offered to us every day. It's up to us.