Black

Black. I have been working with soothing whites and creams for some time now. They can offer a sense of ease, tranquility, and in some instances act as a gateway into an alternative, heavenly world. These white paintings offer a great sense of calm and are aesthetically pleasing to look at.

One can't always stay in the world of serenity without the need to feel a hellish out-lash. This is where black comes in. Too much calm and white and goodness leads me to angst and aggressive states of mind. I need the conflict, the despair, the violent urges. Show me bad things, cruel things, horrid things. Scare my mind til I want to go back to whiteness and tranquility. I need both.

Painting with darks and blacks offers me an escape from the serenity of white. Blacks offer a outlet for the anger, a way to let my emotions go. I abuse the canvas with hard strokes and violent palette knifing. It makes me feel good to have angst. Then, once the black is on the canvas, the angst is gone. White welcomes me home.