The Ballet Girl

In The American in Paris Gallery

This painting started as a study using the new method of letting the painting process be natural and forcing myself to stop when I liked it, even as a study.  At the end of painting, I alluded to her ballerina dress with just a few expressive strokes.  When I look at the bold application of paint, particularly on her face and dress, there are shifting abstract patterns and swatches, much in the style of the French artist Pierre Bonnard.  However, this painting is actually more about paint, color, and expressive strokes.  Who says that creating art can't be "fun"!  I had to constrain myself from continuing because I also want to use it as a reference for new creative directions.   Like most artists... I probably won't be able to stop the temptation of adding additional strokes, but I have a lot of paintings to complete, so it's time to get in my art studio and get back to work!