The Painting Process

The process of going about the painting of my abstract works is fairly rigid but also has to be very flexible, depending on which way the acrylic paint, acrylic ink, rubbing alcohol, and sprayed water take the composition on the canvas .

Of course, during this process , I'm always contemplating the original astronomy influence ( Hubble photos , space objects,etc.) to help guide the action painting and the more conventional paint applications.  I never try to exactly recapture any particular image. It is always used as a primary point of departure .  However,  I have decided at this point what type of overall emphasis I want for the painting.  That is , whether it will have a centered focus or a free flowing approach for the whole canvas. I'll explain more of this difference in the Naming Conventions part of this artistic process review.

Phase one is to create a wash of acrylic paint of a particular color or combinations of color .

Next comes phase two.  This begins the action painting element of the piece.  The term action painting is a description first coined when describing actively applying a flow of color ( traditionally using a medium of paint ) onto a canvas in a fast paced, spontaneous activity. Artist Jackson Pollock's style of abstract painting was the first the be called action painting. My style of action painting primarily utilizes acrylic inks, rubbing alcohol and water being sprayed from a bottle.

Phase three is the evaluation stage of the composition as it dries.  I determine at this point whether I need to start using my acrylic paints to further bring out the composition or whether I need to continue the action painting for a phase four part of the composition.

How I determine which way to proceed , of course, is my artistic secret .  I'm always trying to perfect the elements of these works that make them unique in the world of abstract art and space art. 

Naming the Paintings

Now, as far as the titles for the works, I felt there should be an organized and logical approach .  So, I set up a standardization or Naming Convention.  

First part of the title is my initials : MS .

Second is the approach of the composition. I have narrowed it down to two overall approaches :

a general focus or an object focus.

The general focus is called a Space Scape or SS  .

An object focus is simply Object or O .

Third is the sequence of a particular year the painting was completed. So, if it was the third painting in the O approach, it would be assigned a 3 .

Last is using the last two digits of the year it was completed. Thus, 2010 would be 10 .

So , the third Object painting completed in 2010 would be MSO - 310 .