Milky Breakfast

This painting is from 2013, I made it for an assessment for my final year of university, and it represents a variety of different creative skills I was trying to develop at the time. I was making a series of abstract expressionist pieces for my painting class, but I was also making sculpture made from Styrofoam and expansion foam for a self directed project. The result of all these different projects coming together meant that my work space at University was littered with off cuts and general bits of rubbish. At the time I had very little money (still don't but this was serious scraping the barrel) so I was very thrifty with the materials I used, not letting anything go to waste. This led me to simply do things on a whim and see what the results were, which is a great way to learn.

One day I simply glued a heap of foam off cuts to a canvas I had, made sure they were composed half decently, picked two of my favourite colours and away I went. I can't remember if the decision to let the paint run down vertically was deliberate or not, but at any rate it ended up being the technique I applied the most.

I think this painting gives a sense of a cascading abstract waterfall, but simultaneously it makes me think of a chain of flurescent islands in a warped sea of blue, viewed from the air.

I remember being very suprised and happy with how well and how quickly this painting came together, it is simply the best when that happens. I hope it can conjure up similar feelings of well being for you.

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I am a Tasmanian artist currently located in Launceston.

I work mainly in Abstract Expressionism, acrylics being my main medium. I dabble in portraiture though and maybe a few other things.

I subscribe to the ideology in my trade that abstract expressionism can be taken at face value, there are layers of meaning, as there are in all things, but it's largely illuminated only if you want to look for it. Painting is my purest form of bliss, and I use elaborate motions, frenetic techniques, and make a lot of mess to realise my vision. I aim to make art that is visceral, energetic and exciting. I believe everyone has an innate appreciation and understanding of colour and form, so I feel as though my paintings should be able to be enjoyed by everyone. It's not exclusive, it's INCLUSIVE, and you don't need a degree to be able to appreciate art. I have such a great time creating this work, all I really want is for those feelings of well being to be experienced by the viewer. Pure, undiluted and honest.

I feel the need to create art is an absolute necessity for myself as it is what gives me the greatest sense of contentment and purpose. It's therapeutic, has always needed to happen.. and always will. I am here to act as a conduit for colour and form to come into existence.

I hope you enjoy it, I made it for you. I had to.

- Josef