Process, Color & Form
The paint, the impasto and texture are objects on the canvas. Is it a 2 dimensional object, a 3 dimensional object, or an illusion of a painting?
The focus of this series of paintings has been isolating color, imposing form, and prescribing limitations to my overall approach of creation of the paintings.
My painting technique had previously been a series of explorations of mark making, with a focus on the action — color being the dominant language of formless pictures of expressive, process driven, intuitive marks and subliminal choice of color.
Untitled 132 in x 96 in © Archie St Georges 2017–2018
In 2017, I decided to challenge my relationship to that process by taking conscious steps to introduce concept to the visuals, and interject a definition of my overall theme and focus: instead of distilling the marks, I decided to curb the color choices, and vary the marks, allow shapes to develop, and allow the forms to provide gesture.
On the one hand, I am eliminating components of my earlier work style, and on the other hand I am designating forethought and a preliminary implementation of a formula to bring evidence to the system at play. By reducing the factors that up until now had comprised my method and system I had been inclined to rely upon, and simultaneously extracting the satisfying elements, recurring and repetitive features I would tend to employ, I aim to uncover my true style, sensibilities and interests in the act of painting. Ultimately, I am redefining the structural components of my paintings.
Untitled 108 in x 72 in © Archie St Georges 2018
Engaging in the visual experience, one still relies on color as the guiding language, as color now provides the viewer with evidence of form — 2 forms. Recognizing the continuing conversation from piece to piece, the dialogue between these pairs of visual morphemes is the sign of resolution of the piece. Tension, expression, relating, reacting, reflecting … are some of the interactivity in a display of duality. Symbiosis, and symbioses.
Untitled 108 in x 72 in © Archie St Georges 2018
The paint, the impasto and texture are objects on the canvas. Is it a 2 dimensional object, a 3 dimensional object, or an illusion of a painting? It appears that the paintings benefit from a stronger language, in that there is evidence of an expansion of the spectrum of hues that result — or is that an illusion that results from imposing the limits of unconscious placement? Other questions and thoughts that come to the fore are revolved around the cognitive and aesthetic tendencies, and the origin and deconstruction of system or systems at play — to be explored as this process and new formula develops.