IF I'VE EVER LOVED YOU, I STILL DO
As some of you know, last week I finished a big project and installed my first collection of original abstract paintings (fluid acrylics on paper) at Commonplace Coffee on the Southside. Photos below, but they are better in person! You can see them anytime the shop is open from now until the end of February.
When I was working on these paintings I was thinking a lot about memories, nostalgia, loss, change, longing, acceptance, and what it feels like to grow up, grow old, or grow apart.
To make these paintings, I analyzed a lot of abstract art, studied color theory, experimented with new materials, tools, and techniques, read artist blogs and watched youtube videos when I got stuck, taped a lot of notes to my wall (don’t try to control the painting!), and let myself be messy. I committed to asking, “What would happen if I do this?” instead of letting my decisions be influenced by my fear of making a mistake or ruining a painting. I was bold, not careful.
There are only 11 paintings in the show, but I framed 17, and painted almost 200 pieces of paper (and 5 canvases).
Credit and thanks to Victoria Hutchins for kindly allowing me to use a line she wrote for the title of this show. She narrates heartfelt, relatable poems while doing HANDSTANDS. This is the one that has the line in the caption.
Thanks for following along! If you know someone who might like to see this show or my paintings, I would really appreciate it if you told them about my work or forwarded them this email!
more soon 🖤
nikita