Adventures In Creativity

Contemporary Florals in Oils and Acrylic

John G. Young

A recent focus is photographing and painting flowers. I am interested in their color, shape and translucence to light. I enjoy the interaction of one flower against another and the shadows they throw upon each other. The shapes the color and shadows set up strong designs that reads as well from 50 yards as up close. These bold impressionistic paintings are quite large, currently up to 5 ft. x 6 ft.

I take my own photographs usually early in the morning when the sun shines through our windows illuminating the bouquets on the dinning room table. I use the black chairs as a background which sets off the backlighting. I love the translucence thus created. The photographs themselves are works of art; the paintings take them a step further.

I begin with hard-edge acrylic painting to establish a strong design with interesting negative shapes, then I use oils to add luster, blending color to soften the picture. I seek a semi-abstract work that reads well from a distance, that is more painterly than the photograph.

First Thursday Exhibit at Studio Two Gallery at Rembrandt Yard in Boulder.

GLADIOLAS # 3