What is archaic about the space?
The primitive tilting up of the ground plane forces an artificial space-stacking that is very different from vanishing-point perspective. It allows for surface arrangements of shapes that have intuitive correspondence.
Is this like an aerial view from a plane?
In a way yes, but reviewing commercial flights one realizes that high altitude flattens and induces a haze that together distance the viewer from the area observed. A low-level flight of 300′ above ground or drone image provides a different perspective, more like an in-between view: in between the high-altitude flatness and the feet-on-the-earth vanishing point construction.
Why so geometric?
Those objects can maintain abstract qualities with surface relationships that are defused if softened into renderings. The geometry contrasts well with the organic features in line with the theme of Yin & Yang.
Why fences and gates?
Setting aside any psychological interpretations, these are objects that lend themselves to angled arrangement such as 0, 7.5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 degrees of slant. Additional objects will populate the space soon.
Have you or do you utilize digital arts tools?
I have been using Microsoft Paint for 30 years with all of its limitations, and this year I converted to ArtRage6 for more functionality to edit my paintings. Late in a painting’s evolution I need to decide those final steps but don’t know what they are without trying. The cognitive ideas show up first as “I should do this or that”, but I need to get beyond those dumb imperatives to natural impulses. That’s too much painting on the actual painting to get it right. Hence digital import of the painting’s current state, and layers of revisions are accomplished in ArtRage6. Then back to the real painting.
Why do you have so many “styles”?
Most of my art journey has not been about developing a style as such, but chasing an ideal. I could not define* the ideal so I eventually grew tired of each phase and moved on with different techniques and solutions. I’m mature now, so my Iowa City paintings are my mature stage!
* “… if indeed he has now delicacy of language enough to embody his own ideas.”
Mansfield Park / Jane Austin
“But, after all, the aim of art is to create space – space that is not compromised by decoration or illustration, space within which the subjects of painting can live.”
Frank Stella, New York City, NY
Artshow Journey 