European Abstract Expressionism

Untitled
Watercolour & ink on paper

My first introduction to abstraction was through the European School, particularly the work of Jean Dubuffet , Antonino Tapies and Pierre Soulages. Although they were very different artist, each in some way influenced my move towards abstraction. The Post-War European  art movement arose independently of North America, not an uncommon phenomena as both school were the inheritors of Cubism and Surrealism.
The major difference being that the European vision was less radical, more refined . The early exponents of abstraction though excited by new materials and techniques, did not abandon the easel and often concerned themselves with paint quality.

"Childhood Joy"
Watercolour & ink on paper

"Red Eye"
Watercolour & ink on paper

Every morning as I walked to the art school, I would pass several commercial galleries who specialised in modern European painting. I was fortunate to be able at first hand not only to view the above mentioned artists, but also Lucio Fontana and Karel Appel. This was a great introduction to modernism.

Untitled
Brush & ink on paper

Like most young artist I was searching for a voice for a vocabulary to express my own view of the world. Like many artists in the 60's I became interested in Zen Buddhism and Oriental Calligraphy in an aesthetic sense independent of their literal or religious meaning. As I was doing a lot realistic brush drawing , I decided to try unpremeditated gestural painting, of which I have included a few samples here. Later these sketches were developed as painting.

"Bull Fight"
Plaster on canvas
First attempt at abstract painting.

My first attempt was the "Bull Fight" were I attempted to convey the "feeling "of both the drama and death of the bullring, in some abstract way. At this time I was reading a lot of Pablo Neruda and Federico Garcia Lorca poetry. Their imagery great influenced the "bull Fight", particularly Lorca "Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejias" based on the death of a young bullfighter at five in the afternoon.