Action art allows the viewer to follow the path of movement that the artist's body and medium delivered traveled across the canvas. Not all areas of this action canvas are such. The epitome of action painting (abstract expressionism) was delivered by Pollack in the '40's and '50's. Harkrader's Silent Echo VI (above) has a half dozen action deliveries on the canvas face, while other parts of the 40" x 30" canvas (available) is embedded with collage, photographs, alpha and numeric text. The color blue which is normally cool visually, takes on a warm sensation surrounded by the ochre, sienna and other earth. This canvas is choke full of interesting language, including soft erotica. Never boring & a conversation piece.
The colors red and black are both associated with power. Red has additional meaning such as passion, energy, war and is emotionally intense. Black can be negative in meaning but also is formal and elegant. This painting from Harkrader's 'Winged Essence' series is crisp and clear against the unsized white cotton background of drapery material. The process is totally unforgiving. You only get one chance to find your compositon and other visual language before you abandon the temptation or mistake of continuing. It is over. Let it be.
