David Cairns
I've been painting most of my life. Honours degree in Fine Arts. Teaching degree. Art teacher at the jr high level for a couple of years. After that, building a successful career in the Canadian media industry occupied most of my time and energy.
I'm back at it now with a passion, re-discovering the high of creation. Which, when you think about it, is about bringing to life that which never existed. Original art is just that: Original. And every artist, whether in visual arts, or music, or literature, seeks to bring out something new. Never seen before...ever. Unique!
That's exciting for me and, I expect, for you.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am an abstract painter, living and working in Toronto, Canada with acrylic paint, plexiglass and canvas, creating abstract, non representational art.
The subject of my work is colour and shape, moving together harmoniously and uniquely. With just a chosen colour palette, I am primarily interested in the shapes, lines, intersections and effects that colours can assume as they find their way over the plane. In doing so, I find visual satisfaction in both micro details, and the total image viewed from a distance.
My process consists of acrylic paint applied to canvas or transparent plexiglass, with palette knife, fingers, stick, brush, drizzle, pouring, and sponging. In my work with transparent acrylic glass - or plexiglass -, the paint is applied to one side of the plexiglass and the completed painting is viewed through the other side, like a window – resulting in a flat finish of greater luminosity than canvas painting, reminiscent of silk screen.
My goal is to create images that the viewer is drawn to, spends time with, gets lost in and finds new imagery and meaning upon each viewing, thereby retaining its freshness and vitality.
I have long been inspired by the Quebec movement les Automatistes - and particularly Jean McEwen – and both the discipline and freedom of standing before a blank support with a free mind, attempting to create something that has never existed. The creative immediacy in applying and manipulating color, abstractly and without preconceived images in mind can be breathtakingly freeing, surprising and rewarding.
The challenge in my work presents itself in the spontaneous, ‘in the moment’ decisions made, and the subtle, almost fragile interplay of colour, shape and line that results. To not overthink, to discover the energy inherent in the colour placements, to let balance and composition emerge organically.
I believe in the beauty of original creativity, of not repeating myself, of challenging my work anew. In a world where so much human ingenuity will be replaced by technology, guarding and celebrating individual creativity may never have been more important.
..
I've been painting most of my life. Honours degree in Fine Arts. Teaching degree. Art teacher at the jr high level for a couple of years. After that, building a successful career in the Canadian media industry occupied most of my time and energy.
I'm back at it now with a passion, re-discovering the high of creation. Which, when you think about it, is about bringing to life that which never existed. Original art is just that: Original. And every artist, whether in visual arts, or music, or literature, seeks to bring out something new. Never seen before...ever. Unique!
That's exciting for me and, I expect, for you.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I am an abstract painter, living and working in Toronto, Canada with acrylic paint, plexiglass and canvas, creating abstract, non representational art.
The subject of my work is colour and shape, moving together harmoniously and uniquely. With just a chosen colour palette, I am primarily interested in the shapes, lines, intersections and effects that colours can assume as they find their way over the plane. In doing so, I find visual satisfaction in both micro details, and the total image viewed from a distance.
My process consists of acrylic paint applied to canvas or transparent plexiglass, with palette knife, fingers, stick, brush, drizzle, pouring, and sponging. In my work with transparent acrylic glass - or plexiglass -, the paint is applied to one side of the plexiglass and the completed painting is viewed through the other side, like a window – resulting in a flat finish of greater luminosity than canvas painting, reminiscent of silk screen.
My goal is to create images that the viewer is drawn to, spends time with, gets lost in and finds new imagery and meaning upon each viewing, thereby retaining its freshness and vitality.
I have long been inspired by the Quebec movement les Automatistes - and particularly Jean McEwen – and both the discipline and freedom of standing before a blank support with a free mind, attempting to create something that has never existed. The creative immediacy in applying and manipulating color, abstractly and without preconceived images in mind can be breathtakingly freeing, surprising and rewarding.
The challenge in my work presents itself in the spontaneous, ‘in the moment’ decisions made, and the subtle, almost fragile interplay of colour, shape and line that results. To not overthink, to discover the energy inherent in the colour placements, to let balance and composition emerge organically.
I believe in the beauty of original creativity, of not repeating myself, of challenging my work anew. In a world where so much human ingenuity will be replaced by technology, guarding and celebrating individual creativity may never have been more important.
..
$1,050.00
Acrylic on plexiglass (framed).
37x37"
"TURQUESA" is a reverse acrylic painting. Vibrant turquoise, dark blue, white, red and violet paint is applied to one side of an acrylic sheet: the painting is then viewed through the other side, resulting in a flat, luminous design, almost like a silk screen.
"Turquesa" sits in a white 1.5" frame, and is signed in the lower right.
$1,050.00
Acrylic on plexiglass (framed).
37x37"
"PASSION PLAY" is a reverse acrylic painting on acrylic plastic sheet. Vibrant colours of black, red, white, violet, yellow and blue are applied to one side of the acrylic sheet and the painting is viewed through the other side, resulting in a luminous, flat image, almost like a silk screen.
"PSSION PLAY" is finished in a white 1.5" frame and is signed on the bottom right.
$900.00
Acrylic on glass (framed).
18x18"
"VESUVIUS" is a reverse acrylic painting on glass sheet. Colours of red, black, white, yellow, orange and dark blue are applied to one side of the glass, and the painting is viewed through the other side, like a window, resulting in a luminous flat image, almost like a silk screen.
Finished in a black wood frame, and signed in the bottom right.
$900.00
Acrylic on glass (framed).
18x18"
"CITRINE" is a reverse acrylic painting on glass sheet. Colours of yellow, pink, black and white are applied to one side of the glass sheet and the painting is viewed through the other side, like a window - producing a luminous, flat effect almost like a silk screen.
Finished in a black frame and signed in the bottom right.
$1,500.00
Acrylic on canvas (framed).
36x36"
FILIGREE takes its name from the lace-like interplay of its numerous colours, resulting in a bloom-like design of delicate colour.
Edged in black, signed, and varnished
Acrylic on 1.5" gallery canvas. Framing available.
$1,050.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x36"
TROPICAL is an explosion of tropical colours emerging from darkness. The painting is signed, edged in black, and varnished.
Acrylic on 1.5" gallery canvas
$1,500.00
Acrylic on canvas
36x36"
It's amazing what can be achieved with a narrow palette and just a few colours. A strong blue diagonal creates tension and mystery to this painting.
Edged in black, signed and varnished.
Acrylic on 1.5" gallery canvas. Framing available.
$900.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x24"
Sometimes an abstract design hints of something familiar. The title of this painting - Great Lakes 1 - is driven by the blues and blacks, and ferocity of the paint application...like Lake Superior in a summer storm.
$1,500.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x36"
Mykonos is an abstract design, into which the viewer is invited to engage. For the artist, the coral colours speak of the Greek Islands, hence the name.
Edged and varnished, on a 1.5" gallery canvas.
$900.00
Acrylic on canvas.
24x36"
"World View", while abstract in design, implies an unidentified land mass, surrounded by water. A bit of a political statement, as the land mass throbs with red, heating up from climate change. A contemporary view of the world.
$1,050.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x36"
Colour often has a mind of its own. Images take shape, almost naturally. Such is the case with "Unimagined", a sublime mingling of reds, blues, yellows, browns and greys, creating an image unimagined by the artist.
$1,050.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x36"
What is reincarnation if not new life? Which is what "Reincarnated" celebrates, through swirling, energized, vibrant reds, pinks, yellows and blues.
Edged in black, and varnished, on a 1.5" gallery canvas.