Adrianne James - "Color has always had the power to excite and elate me. The first time I saw the Fauvists I reveled in their free spirited portrayals of the world. But Japan, with its calm and quieting use of space, has also fascinated me and Japanese art helped me to balance my senses when I was confronted with the art of the rest of Asia.
Abstract art is the only kind I truly like to paint. The lure is the freedom of it, yet I like to use the seeming restrictiveness of geometric shapes in my own work. The kick comes from putting them together with an amorphous shape in brilliant colors within a balanced use of space. That quadruple contrast delivers the tremendous excitement, elation and, ultimately, the sense of freedom that I seek.
I usually start out by creating a colored paper collage which often changes when it is transferred into paint on wood. I usually paint in acrylics on wood, although I am occasionally seduced by pastels (Oh, that depth of color!) and there I do not use any geometric shapes, but simply let the color carry me where it will.
I agree with art critic and essayist John Berger that the viewer puts out energy to view the art and I'm sure that my work requires a certain energy from the viewer, but I believe that the expenditure is more than repaid in the elation and excitement the work delivers back."
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