New Work! Transformations

These paintings may have seemingly popped out of nowhere...

but the truth is they have been swirling (almost literally) around in my mind for quite some time now.  When the opportunity came for me to experiment with some of my new ideas, the pieces were created with ease, as if they'd already been completed in my psyche and were finally given the chance to come to life.

The past few years have been a time of change and growth for me.  Transformations is a reflection on this personal evolution; on the ever-transforming movement, energy, and forces underlying change.  In a way these paintings have been about relinquishing control, giving in to the process, and trusting and allowing things to develop as they may.  With a bit of trust, things can and often unfold beautifully. 

"Transformations abandons structure for fluidity; form for the unrecognizable; and control for surrender and trust in the spontaneity and unpredictability of the painting process"

 

By pouring washes of diluted acrylic paint mixed with fluid medium onto my working surfaces, I am creating blending, bleeding and swirling interactions of colour.  While much of the resulting patterns are left up to the paint itself, by employing mindful placement of contrasting tone and use of negative space, I help to ground the momentum in the process to achieve balance.

 

This new direction is exciting for me, and I feel that this is just the beginning...

 As the ideas continue to swirl, I can't wait to see where this all leads me.  The challenge will be to continue to give in, trust, and just allow the beauty to unfold.

I will be debuting this work at the upcoming Spring One of a Kind Show, March 29th - April 2nd, Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto

~ Rachel

Transformations 2, 14''x14'' (framed to 20''x20'')