“Make it into a series!”

I had heard this command throughout the years I studied with the late great Stan Brodsky  whenever a particular work “hit the jackpot.” And I would groan inwardly. If this work was so grand that it was worthy of a series, then in my mind, I was done. As an abstract artist, my creed had been to paint to the peak of the mountain, pause to integrate and be in gratitude for the view, and then move on to the next mountain top.  So, I did not listen… no series for me in the near-quarter decade that I have been painting. Yes, there was coherence in my numerous bodies of work, but no deliberate intent to stay within the confines of a series.

I am a color fiend, let’s just be honest. I am happiest as a painter with numerous overflowing colors on my palette. But in 2019 I was compelled to paint with a limited range of colors. I can’t tell you why, but it was a loud inner calling. Infinity was birthed!

Well, I fell in love with this apparent limit. I started dreaming in these colors. I saw the colors in my meditation. I pushed the multitude of colors in my studio aside and four colors became resident in my studio. I mix colors wet on wet on my canvas, a technique involving great risk and sometimes great results. The origins of the colors were: Ultramarine Blue, Iridescent Silver or Shading Grey, Carbon Black, and Titan Buff. Applying ultra-flow/liquid paints onto a wet canvas created a crescendo of subtle colors.  And so, my personal painting history was made.

I am in the final tantalizing stage of near completion of thirteen works. I have been a hermit in my studio with little work on the business of art. (Thus, you have not heard from me in a while.)

This series felt so righteous that I let it take over. And to my amazement I found that working in a limited palette brought me freedom. The supposed confines of a series opened me up to inner expansion as a painter. I found revolution within the boundaries of the same four or fewer colors.

I look forward to launching this series and sharing it with you. Here are some images of works in process:

© 2020 Alicia R Peterson, work in process. Acrylic on 20-inch diameter convex canvas. Image: Artist.

© 2020 Alicia R Peterson, work in process. Detail from acrylic on 20-inch diameter convex canvas. Image: Artist.

So what are the morals of this tale?

Listen to your teachers? Listen to what you resist most strongly? Confines are boundaries of the mind not the spirit? Yes!

© 2020 Alicia R Peterson, work in process. Acrylic on 12-inch diameter convex canvas. Image: Artist.

© 2020 Alicia R Peterson, work in process. Acrylic on 8 x 10-inch oval convex canvas. Image: Artist.

© 2020 Alicia R Peterson, work in process. Acrylic on 11 x 14-inch oval convex canvas. Image: Artist.