Erin McKenna

Artist's Statement

Expectations are something most artists have upon making their art. I always put mine too high, and most of the time I didn’t like what I made.

In 2018, a friend introduced me to the paint pour method; it appealed to me but abstract art was not my favorite style. When I tried it I used the wrong type of paint, but I still got the pour look. I went in with no expectations and liked every piece I made. I felt free from critiquing every mistake I made.

I experimented with the method in my art classes and continued to be pleased with the outcome. It has been a year since I have done a paint pour art piece. I have gotten the proper materials and I am still getting good results. It is an exploration. I start with no expectations; I am free to allow the process to occur. And it is quite a process. There is more paint on my hands than the canvas most of the time. The process starts off simple with choosing colors and adding them into a cup. Once the paint pours on the canvas comes the messy part of trying to get the paint on all sides of the canvas. Then, if you like how the color looks in one area, it is difficult trying to keep it there while still moving the paint around. It is interesting that I say there are no expectations, and yet I judge the outcome.

Clearly my years of studying art have helped me establish a sense of what is successful, whether the art is figurative or imaginary. I know when this process has worked for me and when it hasn’t. I think the final critique is intuitive, but it involves all the elements that are important to visual imagery: color, color relationships, composition, movement and the blending of the colors. This process has taught me about myself and the process of making abstract art.

Senior Show Gallery