Abstract Art Layers: Summer Rain
What Art Remembers for Us
Not all abstract art represents something consciously thought in the moment.
There are times when I create something deep in my thoughts and only later connect it to my experience.
The process of creating is an opportunity to spend time with the subconscious, allowing ideas to flow naturally without intense direction or logic.
It is only when I step back and return to my consciousness that I am able to understand how the artwork inspired my thoughts.
Art can help us remember who we are by reminding us of where we have been.
art inspired writing
Every summer, my friends and I met at the pool to swim until our fingers were wrinkled and our bodies exhausted. It became our playground and a place I felt comfortable and a part of something important.
I remember ripping small pieces of the kickboards to hold as we jumped in and frantically tried to race and catch them.
I remember cold pints of chocolate milk, the kind they serve in school lunchrooms. We quickly guzzled so we could jump back in the pool.
The most vivid memory over those summers was the feeling of coming home from the pool. My hair still wet and body wrapped in a towel, I raced from the car into the house to change.
Upon entering the house, a cold blast of air conditioning welcomed me home. I loved the physical sensation reminding me of my new location.
Now grown up and living in Florida, walking inside my air-conditioned house on a hot day reminds me of summer swimming days.
As the days become oppressively hot and humid, there is an additional promise of an afternoon thunderstorm giving the evening a breath of fresh air and reminding me the day is coming to a close.
Like clockwork, gray clouds slowly roll in, followed by booming thunder and heavy rain. The rain is thick with drops falling in clumps making quick puddles.
It is enough to soak me through in minutes with water dripping off of my nose. It is sudden and bold and I love it. It is the kind of rain I want to dance in because there is no other choice. No umbrella will cover me, so I am forced to embrace it.
Art Materials For Summer Rain
This piece was created using gouache paint, amazing medium for intensity of color and ability to layer. Gouache paint functions in a similar way to watercolor as it is not fixed or set in place until it is sealed. Any water added to the paint will reconstitute it, allowing for blending.
This painting speaks to me not only because of the vibrance of color but also because each color shows its personality. Some of the blue and purple marks are narrow and precise while the pink and green marks are more open and abstract.
If you close and open your eyes, you might see a different color every time because they all hold their own importance.
