I just finished the first of a series of small geometric abstractions, which I hope to exhibit at Balticon, a science fiction convention this Memorial Day weekend. I've gone to Balticon for almost thirty years, though in recent years I haven't participated as much as I used to. I'm hoping to be back in their art show and to do a painting workshop as well.

My geometric abstractions qualify, if only marginally, as "science fiction" or "astronomical" paintings, since I always include some starfields or other cosmic elements. The curved and straight lines of the composition are also inspired by mathematical graphs. These pictures are quite different from the "conventional" art in the show featuring barbarians, elves, babes, vampires, and spaceships.

Making geometrical abstractions is a rather simple process, I must confess. I don't agonize over any part of this type of painting. Creating the linework takes maybe a half an hour at most. I have a collection of rulers, French curves, and bendable curve instruments which can give me whatever line I want. Once I have the linework drawn on the paper or board, I choose a color scheme and fill in the shapes made by the intersection of the lines. If art is enhanced by suffering, and made profound by a long struggle to create it, I guess these abstractions don't qualify. But if I want nice-looking stuff fast, this is the way to go.

"Hot Track," acrylic on purple colored thick paper, 12" x 9".

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