Oil on Canvas Board, 16" x 20"

This was a spontaneous painting.  I started with the intention of exploring color relationships, specifically blue and red, but had no specific content in mind. When I do this, I just start putting down color, take a step back to assess where it's going, and let it lead me. 

This piece grew around the tension between the blue and red, and the path between. It's interesting the comments I get sometimes on the pieces like this.  What I see isn't always what others see.  This one more so than some others.

I really enjoy doing these types of unplanned pieces, though they carry their own frustrations.  The compositions don't always turn out as strong as something planned out ahead of time.  But interestingly, this approach results in work that is so much brighter and positive in nature than my pre-planned pieces.  Those tend to be more dark, in both color, tone and atmosphere.  It's a nice dichotomy.