Guest Post: Chris Cozen
Painting for me is the pursuit of what's possible. Exploring. Playing. Experimenting. It's all part of the process. The process is what is important to me. I give myself permission to make lots of mistake so that I can learn what is possible and what is not. Along the way paintings get completed, but the process is always ongoing.
For me, process rarely starts with a plan. Process usually starts with an action like choosing a color and adding some to a canvas, then adding another color and maybe some mediums or gels. Each action requires an observation before continuing, a few "what ifs" are always good, and then more action. Twenty actions might occur in just a few minutes because after so many years of processing what's possible, I've gotten very fluid in my thinking and can act quickly. Being unafraid helps a lot! What's the worst that can happen? There are always more actions that can be done. That's one of the biggest reasons I love working with acrylics. They are so versatile, forgiving, malleable, and filled with possibilities.
I'm looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm with you at Make Art In L.A. and helping you build a love for process and acrylics. Together we can play and experiment with color and layers, explore the possibilities that are waiting for us. We'll make mistakes and fix them or let them lead us where they may. We will indulge in serendipity and sometimes figure out damage control. But during all that we'll be up to our elbows in amazing color and magical products that can lead us to all kinds of outcomes.