Emily Stearns "A Composed Mess"
12” x 12”, Acrylic Paint Tape, 2022
When I do paintings like this I do not go into painting it with an idea. I just start painting and see where it takes me. The only thing I did do before the painting was pick my colors I wanted to used and how big I wanted the painting to be. Also when i paint paintings like this I paint how people or myself are feeling.
I started with painting random marks a smudges on the the painting. I then let it dry and felt like there needed to be more. I started to tape out lines on the painting and paint in those lines. After doing that I went back and taped in the shapes that the lines made and painted more marks and smudges.
This artwork is a painting of how I feel and that is why it is my identity painting. I shows how I feel but also shows my vibe. This painting is anger and chaotic but calm and composed at the same time. I think this represents me and a lot of of people in this world.
The part that was the most difficult was to know when to add more and to stop. I had a hard time adding more and had to think for a while on what I should add. Once I knew what I wanted to add I did it then stopped for a while to try and decide when the painting was finished. I ended up adding some more again and then decided that the painting was finished.
This artwork is abstract. I love painting abstract work because it makes you feel things. You dont just look at it figure out what it is or what is happening then move to the next. You have to stop and look and thing about it. It makes you feel things and it is different for everyone. It couls mean something completely different to me than someone else and that is why I this abstract art so much.