instant synesthetic reaction

SYNESTHESIA, according to wikipedia, is "a neurologically based phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway..." blah blah blah. Google it if you want some interesting reading. We all experience it to varying degrees.
In the context of my work, this work in particular, it is as simple as a color associated with all the sensations that are associated with a memory (whether or not that memory is specific, vague, or the sum of many sensations)



The synesthetic experience goes beyond colors, into gesture; the gesture of a line, a brush stroke, the figure's position, shapes and composition.




http://www.kayakpsych.smugmug.com/gallery/3730374#214206812-A-LB



these paintings are probably a combination of a reaction against the paintings that are very involved and take a long time to make as well as the past three weekends of crashing down hillsides in fast moving water in my kayak.



http://www.kayakpsych.smugmug.com/gallery/3730374#214256627-A-LB



I wanted something that was fast and airy, work that was immediate and furious, an instant reaction to a feeling of movement.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/15773601@N06/1795112990/

Fleshy waves?

These are details of the 7 piece, composite painting hanging in the show.....


every show that I've had this past year, someone has seen figures, faces, or other human/organic forms in the more abstract work. this time a student at FDU saw a face in one of the etchings. I saw the flesh tones in these red/orange paintings when I was taking photos.

there must be something to this


I closely relate a body of water to the human body, because feels alive. Moving water pulses, undulates, and has a rhythm that I have seen in many people. Imagine a board surfer duck diving under a crashing wave. Picture young people playing in a small river with rapids, under the hot summer sun; swimming in and out of the currents.

I was tempted to use wax, encaustic, for this project, but I prefer the clearer (and more durable) medium of acrylic. I suppose now I know why wax sculptures are so life-like. The wax mimicks semi-transparency of skin.



What is really curious, fascinating about this subject, is that the more I work on a piece, the more I keep leaning towards a more fleshy combination of colors. It's easy to realize that our bodies are mostly water. Our flesh is mostly water. But that's the simple answer. There is something more of a deep connection to the water; some kind of calling.