Tangerine (2010)
Oil on canvas
36" x 36"
Botero is interested in the dichotomy of the conscious and the subconscious, and how it plays out within the process of abstraction. The paintings are a combination of gestural mark making, colorful atmosphere and graphic form. The paintings begin as gestural marks, and a struggle to balance the freshness of gesture and the solidity of geometry ensues. It is through this conflict that his dynamic compositions are born. New elements emerge through wiping off paint and adding paint in select areas. The unintended spatial relationships that develop lead the way to a delicate balance of proportion, form and color.
Botero describes his process: "The infinite ways color and form can be arranged to convey meaning fascinates me. Through the process of abstraction I boil ideas down into a few simple elements. The work is always evolving but stays rooted in nature and expressionism. For me creating art is like living. It is dynamic, unpredictable and loses all of its spirit when taken too seriously."