While visiting an Italian site on art I recently landed on an interesting documentary about the painter Giorgio Morandi whom the narrator coined as the painter of silence. Not exactly a minimalist myself, the principle of minimalism has always intrigued me. The idea that less is more has its appeal and I have used this guideline in several areas in my environment. It certainly keeps guiding me each time I undertake the boring task of uncluttering my house. It is quite amazing how much stuff one quickly accumulates. I hate clutter!
While my small urban garden spills over with lush opulence and keeps me working for hours, the garden in the back of my beach house is a traditional Japanese garden that invites serene contemplation. I like to think that some of my paintings do too.
As I look at my paintings I can clearly see in my work the allure and expressive freedom of color. Color becomes synonymous of exuberance, joy and also of shock. At times, an intense panoply of color can be overwhelming and saturating like a cluttered space. What I came to realize looking at my work is, that those paintings that are characterized by some degree of minimalism, whether expressed by a monochromatic palette or by a quiet abstraction, are just as powerful as those with intense colors and complex compositions.
Looking at your paintings as a collection is quite informative. Obvious patters and repetitions will emerge in a way you may not have considered. In the process you might discover surprises; you might start questioning and imagine new directions. Possibilities may suddenly engage you to experiment.
We find ourselves often trapped by the comfort of the familiar and by the ease of the habitual. I suspect this creates clutter in the creative process. It may well keep us from evolving. Let’s make room for renewal!