I Switched to Geometric Art Because...

People often tell me that they love my figurative paintings and wish I still painted them. Yesterday a friend remarked, "I think you'd have a gold mine painting cats and dogs." These remarks, though I'm used to them, require my utmost patience. I take their meaning to be: I don't like your geometric art, why are you wasting your time when figurative art is more likeable?

Usually the context or the person doesn't permit an explanation, but it is this: I switched to geometric art when I realized the only part of painting that really interested me was using color. Color, for me, is an effective antidepressant. And, at the point in my life that I switched, I needed that. My geometric art is labor intensive and keeps me involved with colors for long periods of time. I am happy when I'm making it. I'm not really trying to please others.

Actually I like the isolation of having my only my imagination governing what I'm creating. There is no searching for subject matter, no likenesses to achieve. I'm in my own world as soon as I have paint and a canvas.

I understand that everyone doesn't respond to colors the way I do. But some people do feel happier, or so they tell me. Sometimes I'll post a colorful abstract on Facebook and people will thank me for cheering them up. Other people are able to contemplate the elements in a geometric design and find relaxation. They're the audience my geometric art is looking for.

But if there is no audience, I'm still better off for having made these paintings. A gold mine couldn't bring me the same happiness.