Lascaux

Oil on wood.

30x30x1.50"

Part of a small series created during my earlier abstract period, this painting was inspired by the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux, France. I first learned about Lascaux in art history class, and the idea that some of humanity's earliest painters expressed how they saw the world has fascinated me ever since.

Although abstract, much of my work during this period was influenced by landscapes. I wanted to explore balance, structure, form, and colour without depicting recognizable subjects. I imagined how I might interpret mountains, water and trees through the eyes of those early cave painters.

Using a palette knife, I built up the paint to echo the uneven surfaces of the cave walls, creating texture that can both be seen and felt.