Michael Lownie

I chose abstract painting because it was the strongest influence on me when I was young...the art popular in museums was 50-70's and it showed me that there was more to art than just painting a pretty picture.  That whole aura stayed with me. There was a real excitement about underground, avant guard, and the same in music which was also waking me up to a wider consciousness. There was an intellectual divergence, well, even before that of of course with impressionism etc, but the Modern Art of my day really helped form who I am. I had to think about art, and try to understand the importance of subtle (and not so subtle) social implications it addressed. Minimalism, expressionism, PoP, colorfield...this was the world that said to me, there's something important here...adventure, discovery, experimentation, meditation.   I think it connects with others, even if a limited audience, and my work developed from these influences can keep that spirit alive in some manner...there are many people out there who Modern Art doesn't appeal to or it just hasn't clicked; I think some of them can still be reached and taken out of themselves for a bit of expanded awareness. That's the why...and I love doing it.  I hope to bring the wonder of Art to others, so they can experience the excitement that woke me up to the world as a youth.