Softly, I Explore

'Softly, I Explore' is an almost cubist abstract artwork in graphite and acrylic. The space in this statement piece is divided and the eye travels widely to seek meaning. Again, as commonly found in my larger work, there's a generous resting place of calm to balance the activity.
 
The initial structure of each piece in this Graphite Line series is created over a textured acrylic base using water-soluble graphite line, which form boundaries but also draw the eye around each painting like routes on a map. 
 
The movement back and forth between acrylic paint and graphite builds depth and history and I've kept both mediums deliberately raw and loose which gives the viewer a sense of relaxation: nothing is tight or overworked. An unintentional but pleasing outcome of the two components is an incredibly flat almost chalky finish. Minor imperfections of the natural wooden surface of the cradled panel substrate are embraced.
 
76 x 76cm on 20mm deep cradled wooden panel.  Set in a 42mm deep contemporary white painted tray frame (total size 785 x 785mm)
 
CBA021/19