Art Highlight: "Twin, 'Maximal'"

This week, I delivered a donated work for an upcoming The Links Incorporated gala, scheduled for September. The funds raised shall help execute programs in underserved communities.

Twin: Maximal is an original painting consisting of acrylic, latex and oil pastel.

It is the second half of a two panel series: “Minimal and Maximal.”

I thought it would be nice to highlight, Maximal, for this week’s blog entry.

Maximal is a work created during my residency at John Palmer Art Gallery in 2021. During this time, I was awarded a three-month residency which allowed me to exhibit my work on the first floor in the Franklin Gallery, while also occupying all three artist studios located on the second floor. During my residency, I exhibited two solo shows: “Homecoming,” and “Alchemy.”

Maximal was exhibited in Impetus, a solo exhibition at Mid Main Gallery in 2022.

Through Impetus, I explored my purpose as an artist, as well as the mysterious force that compels creativity and its necessity to be released into physical form. I did this through a compilation of paintings created from 2019 through 2021.

In many of my contemporary works, one will notice my use of negative space.

In Maximal, the negative space is created through the color beige—the combinational use of beige paint and the exposure of the natural beige canvas.

Beige serves as a soothing anchor, softening the work, instilling a calming atmosphere.

The green layers convey the abundance, energy and peace found in nature.

Maximal exudes a sense of green scenery and prosperity—lush, abundant verdant blending and liberated brushstrokes intended to provide the viewer the same sense of serenity one finds in nature.

Although containing lots of color, paint and brushstrokes, Maximal commands the viewer to breathe into deep relaxation.

Maximal is a reminder to express gratitude for the fruits of one’s labor, and enjoy them.