Less selective, more acceptive

Heart Race 48x48

I am painting with more energy and enthusiasm than ever. My paintings continue to translate the hustle of my life with two children and a job that stays on my mind (and to-do list). I am finishing my paintings at a stage in which I was once still short of complete. You will see more of the raw, vulnerability and fluidity of the brush strokes left exposed. I came to a point where I felt like I was cleaning up after myself too much and selling my art short of the painterly quality that I was wanting to evoke. It is a leap and one that I am taking with confidence knowing I can always go back. If I don't push myself to do something new, I won't know what I have yet to explore. I might be missing something...

My biggest fear? Regret. The paranoia of one day saying: "I had a chance, but it's too late, and I lost it." All of my life's worries come back to fear of missing my opportunity, especially with my art.

Here is my new hashtag to go with some of the paintings I post:  #liveloosely
If you see it and wonder "what in the world?";

#liveloosely will be with the paintings that are pushing me to think, grow, overcome, learn, move on, adapt, improvise.... anything but settle with what is easy and comfortable. Because I have learned that taking a chance is more fulfilling than not. And, not being adaptive and loose is denying myself the experience of what could have been.

Marching 36x36

Proof 48x48

Pulse A 24x18

Pulse B 24x18

Vital Signs 48x48

Whole Hearted 48x48

Heart Beat 48x36

Instincts and Actions, a new series

Adding another child to my family has been quite a hiccup, but I have learned to work with the changes. Like usual, this struggle has had an influence on my conceptual approach. I have been building a new series of paintings, Instincts and Actions, chock-full of large scale abstracts loaded with layers of energetic brushstrokes, textures and carefully revealed areas of clear, powerful color.

Certainty 48x48 (Anne Irwin Fine Art)

 Instincts and Actions

Life and paint will do what it does, and we have to either go with it or against it. Forcing something to be what it is not requires a lot of energy and frustration and the outcome is never authentic. By allowing my paint to run and drip, smear and mud, I can let paint be paint, and use those natural characteristics to my advantage. Same with my family life; I cannot expect my highly energetic three year old and six month old to do exactly what I need them to so that my life can flow like I would design it to. We have adapted to a new life and routine with children. Once I understood how to loosen up and take each day as it was dealt, I became a much happier mama, wife and artist. I find the time to paint, lately at the crack of dawn, well before anyone is up and let myself be their mother later in the day without the guilt and unfinished work looming over me.
Lose control. Embrace imperfections. Live in the moment. Time is fleeting and nothing is permanent. I am adapting to the situation rather than trying to change the circumstance. Go with your instincts, and take action. Just find a way, and make it happen.

Head Above Water 48x48 (Lyons Share Gallery)

Initiative 48x36 (Anne Irwin Fine Art)

Set in Motion A 60x36 (Blue Print Store)

Set in Motion B 60x36 (Blue Print Store)

 As I continue to build on my recent series, The Big Picture, I am continuing to look at the concept from different angles. Throughout these paintings, I have been using new techniques involving oil sticks which incorporate my love for the gestural line. As I developed these paintings, I used those lines and the consequential shapes to layer over previously laid areas of the painting. I am pushing this over-lapping method even further which is giving me a new challenge for aesthetic's sake, and allowed me to reflect more on the comparisons to our lives. As we age and gather layers of experience, our character continually builds and becomes more dynamic and distinguished with each encounter and challenge, as does the painting.

Gatherer 48x48

Make Way 48x36

Mounding 48x48

Cumulate 48x48

Make a Beautiful Mess

As I was working on these two paintings, I began thinking about the way so many circumstances require us to make a big mess before something beautiful happens. I work on a painting in one direction for a while, and as soon as I get to where I was going with it, I realize it's missing dimension. At that point, sometimes against my own will, I develop almost a whole new painting on top.

That practice is something we do throughout our lives. I do it when it's time to organize a messy closet by creating a chaotic disaster so it can be put back together the right way. (My studio is the only place I can handle said unorganized messes.)

But, a more significant comparison is to the events in our lives. Without our will, sometimes things get shaken up for us. That in-between moment is scary and unfamiliar, and you are suddenly a victim in a messy spot. At that ugly point, it becomes clear what was withholding us all along and so we add, change and eliminate parts in order to pull back together again.... with more substance and strength than before.

In my paintings, that built-up second layer allows me to unearth areas to show parts of the previous painting. The layers and experiences give the final result dimension and visual strength.

Disarranged 60x48

Shake-Up 60x48

I will be in ATLANTA Friday night March 28th for a group exhibit at Anne Irwin Fine Art! Please help me spread the word. I'd love to see some familiar faces!

check out the list of other exhibiting artists!  http://anneirwinfineart.com/event-calendar/
 
#sarahottspaintings #atlanta #anneirwinfineart #miamicircle #atlantaart

In the Studio, Sarah Otts, March 2014

Upcoming exhibits!

I have three exhibits coming up:

March 28th, Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta

April 1st, Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope, AL

April 3rd, Blue Print Store, Dallas, TX

NEW SERIES! "The Big Picture"

It's a new year and I decided I was ready to explore new concepts with my paintings. The shock of being a first time parent is no longer my biggest influence. I guess I got the hang of it, after all! (not...)

I am really excited about my new series of paintings. I feel like I will be able to work long and hard with these concepts. I am always pushing myself and my work to grow and change. Taking a good hard look at what is on my heart and my mind helps me to make work that is genuine. I like to be able to explain what I am painting. The majority of the population is naive to abstract painting. I will always have an answer to that (annoying) question....
 "So what is it, anyway?" 
 And I'll say: "Oh, I'm glad you asked....but you will wish you hadn't!"  :)


Here are the first of many paintings from "The Big Picture" and my artist's statement for this series.

Unfolding A 48x48

Unfolding B 48x48

The Big Picture A 48x48

The Big Picture B 48x48

Comprehending 48x48

Grand Scheme A 48x48

Grand Scheme B 48x48

Inclusive A 40x40

Inclusive B 40x40

By and Large 48x48

Unabridged 30x24 on paper

The Big Picture, artist's statement 

   I have taught myself to view each life event as an essential chapter that leads to the next. The paintings in “The Big Picture” series illustrate the highs and lows in the story of life.  Hardships are inevitable, and the stress of an ordinary day can make it hard to remain enthusiastic. However, if we examine our past, it is easy to see that the grim moments make the greatest joys seem brighter. It even seems that we could not fully experience one without the other.
    In this series, I want to achieve a finished painting that does not look perfected or overworked. Instead, I want the painting to seem raw. There are areas that expose the process and stages that the painting has gone through. Various shapes, textures and colors are carefully layered and selectively washed or wiped away. The uncovered gestural lines provoke visual energy and vivacity. I am recognizing ways to paint with less apprehension, while honesty and confidence remain important objectives for creating fresh, distinctive work.
    When looking at a painting that represents a lifetime, there are occasional areas of dark tones, neutral colors in passive spaces, and pleasing hues in areas that draw the eye.  The result displays how the dark, dull and vibrant moments will collaborate to create a big picture worth admiring.

Tis the Season.... for smalls!

This is the time of year that I make an exception and paint small paintings. I am working on more and more everyday so be sure to check with me up until Christmas day for last minute gifts.

I also have a pretty little gift card that will slip into a stocking just fine~ so start dropping hints ladies....

Reworks

I love a good make over project so I do it to my paintings all the time. Here are some examples. Sometimes they are older paintings that I want to update, and some are paintings that I feel were stopped short of becoming what they were capable of. 

*starred paintings are still available

Mist- before

*Mist* -after

Core of Motion I - before

Core of Motion I - after

Core of Motion II- before

*Core of Motion II*- after

Exhibit Opening, NYC

Robert and me at the reception in NY. Fun night!!

A reminder about the opening reception this week in New York:

The Kaleidoscope of the Mind at Agora Gallery in Chelsea.

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 7, 2013, 6-8 pm
Exhibit on display: October 29 - November 19, 2013

Sneak Peak:

Revel in Space I  48x30

Revel in Space II  48x30

Space to Breathe II 36x36

::Published in ARTisSpectrum Magazine::

I am excited to share with you this issue of a New York based art magazine called ARTisSpectrum which features my work on several pages! Click here to view a copy of the issue.

Shown in this image are two paintings I exhibited at Agora Gallery in NY last year. They are hanging in this lovely New York apartment. Thank you to the Races for your thoughtful comments. I am thrilled you are enjoying your paintings!

There I am, on the back cover, up there in the corner in yellow.