"Abstract Harlequin" Painting

"Abstract Harlequin" is a spin off of a large 2016 portrait painting entitled "White Harlequin". (The "White Harlequin" portrait is included in the photos for the viewers reference only. It is not for sale under this listing. It is for sale, however, under a separate listing). As a modern painter I don't want to lose touch with abstraction while I do figurative painting. Spin offs are a way of continuing to work abstractly. They are generally smaller works that emerge over the course of the work on larger projects. Spin offs happen spontaneously when I'm working on something "serious" like a figure. They give my mind a rest. They generally tend toward greater simplicity and abstraction. Spin offs are often my personal favorites. They are generally less labor intensive than major works, though not always, and thus they can be offered at a very reasonable price. An interesting aspect of this piece is that it contains within it the universal symbol of wholeness, the circle, as focal points. This is not merely decorative. The eye will always be drawn immediately to the circle which, being a universal mandala, has a centering effect upon consciousness. This happens, of course, beneath the threshold of consciousness. If one looks at a painting with a circle in it for a while however, as in appreciative gazing, a noticeable shift in consciousness will occur. I first noticed this effect years ago when I would often wake up distressed in the middle of the night. I would get up, make tea and go sit in front of some artwork. Relaxed contemplation of art in this way always set things right. Like many artists, in addition to painting, I am also a jewelry designer. I love seeing the relationship between jewelry making and painting as shown here is some of the photos. Again, the jewelry pieces are shown for the viewers reference only and not included in the sale of this painting.