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 canvas.
36x36"
An explosive confrontation of earth shades, PreCambrian hints of prehistoric rock formations below the earth's surface.
Edged in black, and varnished, on 1.5" gallery canvas
$1,050.00
Acrylic on canvas .
36x36"
Although an abstract study of colour, "ESCARPMENT" is also a tribute to the Niagara Escarpment, a great prehistoric upheaval overlooking Lake Ontario.
Varnished, with black edging on 1.5" gallery canvas
$1,050.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x36"
There's a lightness to "EPHEMERAL" - hence the title - delivered both through the wispiness of the paint, and the pink/violet/white palette.
Varnished on 1.5" gallery canvas
$1,500.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x36"
I titled this painting "Temiskaming" because the mineral, rock and water effects remind me of Northern Ontario.
Parts of an underpainting show through gouges in the top layer.
Varnished, with black edging on 1.5" gallery canvas
$900.00
Acrylic on canvas.
24x36"
Although an abstract colour piece, the name MACH 1 references the speed of sound, which seems to fit this painting as it feels like you're zooming through the sky.
$1,200.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x48"
On a background of varying reds, DAYS GROW SHORT evokes that time of day when the light dims and dusk falls. Aggressive scratching through the grey allows some of the red - the evening light - to slip through.
Varnished with black edging on 1.5" gallery canvas
$1,500.00
Acrylic on canvas.
30x40"
This references Space - A nebula is luminescent part of outer space, can consist cosmic dust.
Varnished with black edging on 1.5" gallery canvas.
$1,200.00
Acrylic on canvas.
48x36"
"The Light Within Us" is all about humanity. The passion and energy coming from each of us that makes the Human Condition.
Varnished with black edging on 1.5" gallery canvas
$1,200.00
Acrylic on canvas.
48x36"
Heavy, emotional gouges are scratched into Passion Storm, revealing the red underlay, like a passionate rainfall.
Varnished on a 1.5" deep gallery canvas, with red edging.
$1,200.00
Acrylic on canvas.
48x36"
Solaire - named for its dominant use of yellow, on a reddish underlay, revealed in a series of scratches over the canvas.
Varnished, on 1.5" deep gallery canvas, with black edging
$900.00
Acrylic on canvas.
30x24"
Northwest Passage is a heavily impastoed acrylic painting, rich in red, blue and white, evoking the far north of Canada.
Varnished, 0.7" depth with blackened sides
$900.00
Acrylic on canvas.
30x24"
Ensoleillé - sunny or sunlit in French, is a bright, impasto driven celebration of colour.
Varnished, on a .7" depth canvas, edged in black