the Bird series.
2021 - present
original paintings by Steven M Strauss
The Bird paintings began in 2021 from a desire to create paintings which celebrate the impact of color in a gesture that is minimal and often accidental in nature. From a desire to build traditional painterly form and light out of the void of a color field and from the desire to be as deliberate and minimal in all applications of the paint itself. To satisfy this end the use of spray paint and hand-cut stencils came into regular practice. The color and dynamic nature of birds and their plumage yielded a perfect subject match to this painterly puzzle. The paintings are built up layer by layer, each layer alternating between spray paint and oil paint. The study and quest to learn about as many birds as possible followed shortly after and the series continues to inspire me to create and appreciate color and paint application as well as these fascinating creatures.
-steven m strauss