Big Yellow Taxi II

Description

This series began in a workshop run by the amazing artist and tutor Ashley Hanson.  In the workshop we first looked at the work of the American abstract painter Joan Mitchell with her wonderful mark making and then responding to our favourite song of the extraordinary singer, songwriter and artist Joni Mitchell.  In this case my favourite song of hers is “Big Yellow Taxi”.  Before the workshop I listened to the song numerous times and did 6 studies in acrylic and inks on paper, I then used these studies to help me in the workshop.  The oil paint in this painting has been applied with vigour and I believe very much in the spirit of the song and capturing some of it’s essence.  The main feature of this painting is derived from the destruction of the trees in the lyrics being replaced by a large dead space.