Claire Wright New work

Abstract Variations

Moving Painting Exhibition - April 2021

This series of moving paintings are slowly evolving abstracts that explore the endless possibilities of painted shapes, textures and colours to reflect an emotion or simply tell story. They are all intended to inspire your imagination and to let you take from them what you will.

These works are open editions and unwatermarked versions are available for streaming or downloading -.

Abstract Variation No.1 'The Question' - There is a narrative here (somewhere!) and some intense emotion.

Abstract Variation No.2 'No To-morrow' - A touch of space and a hint of the complexities of existence - maybe?

Abstract variation No. 3 'An Inborn Fire' - A reflection of ever changing thought patterns or what?

Abstract Variation No.4 'Fair as Gold' - You work this one out yourself!

Abstract Variation No. 5 'Pandæan Pleasure' - Sometimes we just have to take a trip!

If you have enjoyed these moving paintings you will very likely enjoy The Journeys Collection.

Background to the work
Ever since seeing Jackson Pollock's 'Blue Poles' in Australia back in the 1970s I have been drawn continually to working in the abstract. Pollock's large scale work was hugely controversial at the time in Australia and the general public voiced their righteous disapproval on the squandering of tax payers money! I found my own abstract works also caused much consternation, puzzlement and even anger. It was these responses that lead me to try and find a way of leading viewers into an abstract painting without writing reams of 'art speak' which would have had the wrong effect anyway.

The coming of the first synthesiser to my favourite music store in Perth gave me the idea of providing the bridge between the bewildered or indignant viewer and my paintings. It also gave me the opportunity to indulge in what was then just a hobby, of composing and recording my own music.

So, along with my rather turgid abstracts came some equally turgid, arhythmic and atonal 'music' which much to my delight did the job it was intended to do pretty well. Over the ensuing 30 years or so I have perfected my skills and improved on the concept. Thanks to the amazing advances in digital technology there are now many ways open for me to explore and expand my ideas. This new body of work is the result of honing the techniques I have learned over the years. Digital artists are spoilt for choice and I have found it necessary, as my eyes only allow me 1-2 hours a day for screen work, to cease struggling with 3D and interactive art and to resist exploring new exciting temptations on offer such virtual reality and AI in a determined effort to keep my work methods as simple and direct as possible.

These new moving paintings, five minute looping animations, are hand painted using a Wacom Tablet and software such as Corel Painter, Rebelle, Affinity Photo and Pixelmator. Once the format of the abstract work has been painted the layers of media are animated in Apple's Motion and Final Cut Pro.

The music is composed using more or less traditional musical harmony and modes but always with an eye to reflecting the visual image without recourse to obvious cinematic soundtrack methods. A good 'mash up' is sometimes necessary to capture the 'abstractness'' of the visual work.

It is always a challenge to produce something that will bear with being played on a five minute loop and you can, of course, turn the sound off! I use various synthesiers, guitars and recorded samples all put togther using Logic Pro X.