PAINTING PROCESS

Marc Raphael is an action painter who paints in the abstract expressionist style, primarily interested in the physical act of making his art. As he lays raw, unstretched canvas on the floor and intuitively applies the first marks of acrylic paint on the canvas, he does not have a preconceived notion of what will unfold or how the painting will evolve. Its evolution and all the knowledge, learning, understanding, and growth associated with it appeals to him, and it’s the uncertainty, mystery, and possibility for discovery that excites Marc.

“I placed the canvas flat on the floor and moved around it, dripping and flinging paint as Pollock did.  I was hooked immediately.”

Marc actively involves his body in his action painting process. This physicality is a perfect fit for someone with his athletic background. There is an energy and rhythm to the way he moves around the perimeter and the way he leans and bends and uses his shoulder and arm to swirl, fling, and drip the paint that is practiced and graceful.

“Jazz-like improvisations on canvas”

His large acrylic abstract paintings feature colorful layers of interwoven curvilinear lines, swirls, splatters, and drips that resemble webs, the cosmos, and swimming sperm.  Yep! Take a look!

As both the source and subject of his paintings, Raphael paints to be himself and to see himself, choosing to represent his inner landscape rather than the external world. In a free association of thoughts and feelings, and while consciously attending to the formal elements of line, color, texture, and composition, his mind and body work harmoniously together to apply paint to the canvas in a meaningful and logical manner. This balance of control and spontaneity resembles improvisational jazz, and that is why he refers to his paintings as ‘jazz-like improvisations on canvas’.