Take Me Away Painting

I love the process of painting - the physical process of applying paint to canvas. I feel a real sense of freedom in allowing a spontaneous application of color and line to the prepared surface. There is energy in painting that connects the external world and my private interior space. I appreciate the dialogue that takes place between the painter and the work in progress. Each painting has its own demands and evolves and reveals itself thru the process of painting. The process almost always begins with a line, or many lines drawn as fast as possible. Then, I like to hang shapes and colors and textures among the lines. Sometimes they tell a story or illustrate an emotion, but not always. Often I add objects to the surface of my work, creating a collage out of patterns and paint, line and texture. When working with a live model I will start with a line drawing that is fairly representational but will then work itself into an abstraction of the mood or motion of the model. For me, abstract art, like life, is always accessible and inaccessible at the same time. Both tangible and mysterious, abstract art contains the elements of surprise and spirituality. Beth Cartland, February 2014 202-341-7110