Gesture

By gesture I mean the mark left by moving a paint-filled brush, palette knife or other marking device swiftly across the canvas. It requires a fluid movement of the arm, sometimes the whole body, to bring it off.

It is thrilling to make a generous sweep across a large canvas. And then another and another. I get caught up in the action, rushing to refill the brush or palette knife with paint.

I am in motion. The beat of whatever music I'm listening to forms the pulse of my attack.

Stepping back, I look at the result. Paint drips, bubbles, intersects, glazes over, dries spottily, seeps into its neighbor. You never know exactly what will happen when you make such a gesture. But you can't make these marks with studiously applied dabs. You have to have faith and go for it.

Gesture leaves its mark on my work.

Click here to see more art.