A Pittsburgh Artist

π Day is a celebration of national “π Day” which includes a slice of lemon pie and screaming celery (among others) in abstract form. The jarring colors expose the jarring feelings I experienced during this angst-ridden time.

In Search of YinMn is my search to recreate YinMn blue (yttrium, indium and manganese) also known as Oregon Blue. It is a color newly discovered in a lab at Oregon State University in 2009. This chemical makes a remarkable blue hue, which is not yet out in commercial paints. I did my color-mixing to match YinMn and give it some complementary and supplementary colors. This abstract painting shows the joy I felt in searching for YinMn.

Behold the Essential Triangularity is a response to the question: “How do triangles re-shape the world around them?” The left of the painting shows the natural world which shades from a lily pond into a room looking through a window. It depicts our human need to transform nature into something more mathematically perfect.

Under the Hill is an unplanned process painting. At the top right of the painting is a small tree-filled hill. Underneath, everything else is happening. Various abstract creatures and vessels grow into their own connections. The background of the under-landscape is an ombre of greens shading to yellow. This world is a world with its own rules.

The Dragon King’s Daughter is a character from Buddhist legend. She is a juvenile. She is part animal, dragon. And she is a female. For these three reasons she was told she could not achieve enlightenment in this lifetime. She took this as a direct challenge and achieved enlightenment right then in front of her skeptics. Here she is floating on the waves of the sea and chanting “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” to show us that We too, can achieve enlightenment just as we are.

Micha-el is an illustration of the archangel Michael who is smashing the church’s stained glass window. He is expressing his anger, which is seen only in the action because his face is angelic and unseen.

Magic Carpet Ride is a juxtaposition of contrasting colors and tiny, busy surface filigree. This is a completely unplanned process painting inspired by the shining surfaces of an unknown garden as seen from the ride atop the carpet flying above.

Undertow is the feeling of counter-movement of the paisleys against the various hues of the blue background. This is a completely abstract, pattern and color-movement work.

Sous La Mer is an unplanned process painting. It took up fanciful salmon pinks and multiple greens to show what the undersea might look like to its own inhabitants.