Chris Lyter

Creating abstract artwork opens my mind. My process for creating an abstract painting is free flowing and natural, allowing me to follow the painting as it evolves rather than attempt to adhere to a preconceived notion of the end result. I often only have a vague idea of color palette and composition when I begin painting, at times ending up with something vastly different from what I may have initially imagined. This, to me, is the adventure of painting abstraction. The process forces spontaneity. The painting can become a reflection of the thoughts, emotions, and mood I experience while I work.

Some of my paintings are abstract representations of recognizable material such as a landscape, seascape, or sky. Others are pure abstraction composed of seemingly random shapes, lines, forms, colors, and values. All attempt to convey depth beyond simple paint on canvas. They are an exploration of the less obvious; some dreamlike and ethereal, others bold and energetic. For me each painting represents an escape from the usual and commonplace, into a sort of alternate reality. They cause me to question, wonder, and think.