Michael Clark - mclarkpainter

Due to much ridicule and banter, as well as embarrassment on my part, it is time to update.


Much has happened since the last posting. My work has changed quite a bit. I am quite happy with the changes and the direction of the work.

I was in conversation with a friend and colleague over another artists work. The comment was made something to the effect, "I like the work but is it realism or abstraction, it doesn't seem to know."

It took a day or two but I realized he was talking about me. Which put me to thinking.

For some time now I have not been able to let go of the realism aspect of my work. I finally just let go. I spent a month or so making works that were very experimental for me. Splattering paint, collage work, assemblage, and gestural and controlled abstract experiments. Mostly exercises, and challenges to keep me out of my comfort zone. And as with most challenges in life, after the pain and suffering, the lessons learned were well worth the pain.

The end result was that I discovered how much I love texture. The discovery of adding materials to the under painting to create different effects has been quite liberating and rewarding.

When I go to museums and galleries and see the original works, I love the added bonus of noticing the under drawing or layers of paint that reveal the working history and a glimpse of the thought process involved in the creation of the work. That bit of insight or discovery adds appreciation, enjoyment, and personal value to the viewing.

That bit of understanding of my viewing tastes, lead me to the use of texture and adding of materials to the base, or under painting process of the work.

The general composition of horizontal lines started out as simplified, abstracted versions of the landscape, with the patterns representing the flat signs and billboards that litter the landscape.

The color harmonies and how they work together, the texture and how it functions with the colors creates underlying composition. A bonus you get when noticing a small piece of color peeking out at you, or a texture that sparks your interest. These subtle things make you consider the history and process of the paintings creation. These are the driving force behind the work presently.