Awake Painting

Soo is a professor of graphic design in the Art Department at Concordia University, Irvine, California. Artist Statement: The paintings were produced by examining memories, perceptions and personal relationships. This examination was a visceral and instinctive experience shaped by recent travels and significant life altering events. The climates, vegetation, and landscapes of California, Malaysia, and Vietnam provided a palette to draw from. The process of creating artwork has given me pause in life’s busy schedule for contemplation. I allow specific personal events or emotions to guide my color selections, forms, and strokes. Painting in a gestural manner with watercolor and India ink onto the paper created a feeling of spontaneity. I responded to these initial watercolor forms by segmenting the painting. The last step included drawing with ink to manipulate the composition. White/negative spaces were used to affect the balance of the paintings, as these areas act as major forms within the compositions.