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My work explores the relationship between darkness and beauty. Poetry is an essential source for my ideas. Finding moods and sensitivities in words helps me understand how to do that in painting. This work is inspired by the last works of Spanish poet, Federico Garcia Lorca, ‘Sonetos del Amor Oscuro’

I use neutral monochromatic color, with a focus on texture, value, and shape in my paintings. Despite the deeply emotional sources for my work, formal exploration of these elements is also important to me. Since moving to Mexico last year, light value, primitive shapes, structural lines, and subtle textures have emerged more strongly in my work. This combination of formal exploration with emotional expression is similar to poets using structures like sonnet or haiku. These limits help push my creative expression.

I build my abstract paintings using cold wax medium (a soft, beeswax paste), oil paint, pigments, and wood ash.

Jerry McLaughlin

jerry@jerrymclaughlinart.com