FREEDOM - IS NOT ABSTRACT

FREEDOM - IS NOT ABSTRACT
by Andy Weddington
Thursday, 07 April 2016

Without freedom, no art; art lives only on the restraints it imposes on itself, and dies of all others. Albert Camus 

Freedom. 

What is it? 

While painting 'en plein air' alongside a narrow walking street on a small cay in the Bahamas, an idea struck. 

Parting from usual true rendering of the landscape, simplifying shapes and changing colors making for abstract seemed the right approach. 

Trees and houses and fences and light poles and clutter and such flattened and rendered different colors for purpose of design only. 

"Freedom lies in being bold," said Robert Frost. 

That day I was bold!

The painting strong and interesting. Intriguing, more so. 

How wonderful for freedom to paint however - restrained but by imagination (and talent). Too, how fortunate just to enjoy the freedom to paint. 

Ideas from that small abstract and thoughts of freedom nagged and gurgled. And gurgled and nagged. 

Hundreds of hours spent (and still) doodling in sketchbooks, slopping paint on paper and cardboard and canvas, and playing on iPad - searching for something. 

Amidst the art, pondering the essence of freedom came a few questions...

What is freedom? 

How is freedom defined? 

Can freedom be depicted?

Nothing is free. 

Freedom is certainly not free; abstraction lost in its cost. 

So how ironic the word. 

A year or so ago commentary addressed some of these ideas and included beginnings of abstract representation. 

Surprisingly, offers to buy the artwork and queries about prints rolled in. Flattering but all graciously declined for the ideas still being developed. 

After more than two years of working, scrapping, rethinking, reworking, and fine-tuning, the first two "abstracts" - that are not abstract at all - of freedom now in print.

For particulars and availability visit... www.weddingtonartgallery.com/Freedom.html

Camus was right!

"Without freedom, no art."

Post Script

For readers suggesting a "Donation" button for this commentary site, well, here you go - and a little something extra, more than words, in return. Thank you! 
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