I was an “expressive” painter before I even knew I had a style. I always went for slightly wild colors and I love thick paint with lots of brush strokes showing. Think Van Gogh. But also my modern heros: Elmer Bishoff, Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud (my current favorite.)
But how to explain what I do? Last week I was struggling with writing a new artist statement and I was Googling for ideas to inspire me. (Or to steal.) I found the perfect, simple advice about expressive painting on “About.com.” Here’s how to be an expressive painter according to their experts:
Simply, don’t blend and don’t tidy up.
Works for me, especially since I have never been inclined to tidy up ANYTHING. You could ask my husband, the dishwasher at our house.
Here’s an example of a recent painting that is so untidy that my husband says he doesn’t know what it is.
Joanne Taeuffer 