In Wrong Side of Town, an oil on paper abstract painting, I sought to capture the raw, gritty energy of the urban periphery where architecture, decay, and human life intersect. Working directly with oil pigments on paper allowed me to build a rich, tactile surface that mirrors weathered streetscapes and timeworn facades.
The painting is dominated by a structural grid of deep crimson, fiery red, and faded pink, providing a raw architectural foundation. Cutting across this warmth are cool, atmospheric washes of slate gray, muted teal, and pale, frosty blue that sweep vertically, suggesting urban shadows, water streaks, and the passage of time. I intentionally varied the application, moving from translucent glazes to thick, expressive impasto swipes and a small, intricate scratched grid pattern, to create a dynamic sense of depth and grit. Ultimately, this piece is an exploration of environment and resilience, inviting the viewer to look beneath the surface and decipher the overlapping stories written in paint.
