David Cairns

Abstraction has become a bigger part of my life as I’ve “matured”. The dramatic impastos of Jean-Paul Riopelle and the action painting of Jackson Pollock have been the main influences on my work.

I love working with textures and colour, and the challenge of a blank canvas. Often with no preconceived idea, staring at the canvas to unearth the idea, much as a writer faces the blank page.

Courage is a word too often used, but it applies to abstract painting. Each decision, made quickly, affects the whole. And to know when it’s complete…that’s the challenge.

Bachelor of Fine Arts, York University Toronto
Bachelor of Education, University of Toronto