Featured
Sue Reidy
ARTIST
2016
In 2016 I continue my obsession with the possibilities arising from layering transparent colour and extending my repertoire of gestural mark making. My spontaneous marks laid down and then wiped away or smeared are reflective of my nervy, hectic energy. I immerse myself in the joys of direct manipulation of acrylics using gels and mediums to create particular effects. I scrape, pour, smear and drag paint in different viscosities across the canvas, controlling the sections of canvas that I leave bare. This allows the gestural marks to settle and creates a sense of spaciousness. Wiping away areas of wet paint allows me to expose previous layers of mark making. The completed canvas becomes a palimpsest of marks and signs, some emerging with an intense clarity, while others become muted, elusive or merely suggested.
I am seduced by both the viscosity and the transparent possibilities inherent in acrylics. There’s a sense of urgency as I paint. If I don’t work quickly, I may lose my nerve. I often don’t know where I’m heading when I start a painting. From moment to moment I work intuitively, making instant decisions, risking failure with every gesture, each of which acts as a bridge to the next.