Sue Reidy
ARTIST
The subject of my abstract painting is the process of painting itself. In a series of dynamic, spontaneous movements I manipulate a range of tools through wet paint in fluid sweeping gestures to create sensuous and exuberant overlapping loops and swirling brushstrokes. The mark making is both expressive and loose, yet also retains an element of control. It relies on a combination of deliberation and spontaneity. There is an emphasis on playing with transparency and celebrating colour. I am exploring the transparent qualities of acrylics to create intense relationships between juxtaposed colours. My gestural mark making is overlaid with transparent colour glazes to create an illusion of both form and depth. My aim is to develop forms and emotive, expressive effects that are suggestive but remain enigmatic.
My painting reflects a materials-driven process in which I have created layered paintings in acrylics and gels. I grapple with my paintings: scraping, wiping, scratching, smearing, or manipulating acrylics and inks into energetic shapes and forms to create the desired effects. I employ a diverse range of tools and gels to emphasise each painting’s materiality.
2018
My painting in 2018 reflects restlessness and risk taking. Each painting acts as a bridge to the next. Although at first glance individual paintings may appear to have no connection, I know that what I’ve discovered and wrestled with in the previous painting is being applied to the next work. My body of work is still very much materials and process driven. Expressive mark making and exploring the possibilities of acrylics and mixed media are an ongoing fascination. Experimentation and risk taking is crucial, which means I have a high failure rate in my work. I continue to paint over old paintings and generally this results in work that I’m happier with. The ghost of the previous painting informs the new work as I always allow selective aspects of it to be exposed.