About
Edward Sellery grew up in southern California. His parents were educators, his mother an English professor and father a superintendent of schools. He studied painting at U.C. Irvine where he was encouraged by Via Celmins and influenced by Ed Moses. In the mid 70’s he moved to northern California to practice an eastern style of spirituality. He found work in the back office of stock brokerage firms but never stopped painting. For Edward, abstract painting is an outlet, a source of inspiration and a way to make sense of the world.
Why I Like Abstract Acrylic Painting
To put it simply the theme of my work is the dance of body and mind. Body is represented by gesture and texture and mind by geometry and design. The bridge between the two is feeling represented by color. In my experience the effective synthesis of body and mind reconnects us with our humanness and galvanizes the spirit.
I think of abstract painting as a game. The elements of the game are the materials of the craft; paint, canvas, etc… as well as the traditional visual vocabulary; color, value, shape, etc…. The rules of the game are invented with an uncertain outcome because a predictable result would offer no surprise.
In short the method is play and the purpose is the pursuit of wonder, beauty and pleasure; wonder for the mind, beauty for the heart and pleasure for the body. The creative process both for the artist and the observer has the potential of being immersive such that the sense of self and time is suspended ushering in a sense of freedom, well-being and renewed energy for life’s possibilities.