In my college painting classes, my painting prof used to always say that knew I was in class because he could literally hear me painting.  You see, I have a tendency to dig my brushes into the surface of the canvas, a sensation and sound I quite enjoy ( though it’s pretty tough on expensive brushes! ).  The work of Florida artist Amy Donaldson has that same kind of textural energy, I can almost hear the scrape of her brush and palette knife against the canvas.

You’re Beautiful, Oil on Canvas, 60 x 60 in. © Amy Donaldson 2012

Donaldson’s process is one of an additive and subtractive back and forth between the palette, paint, and canvas.  Inspired by her ( and my! ) native state of Florida, Donaldson creates abstracts that hint at the broadness of a landscape, yet have the surface of an aged, graffiti covered wall.

Adore, Mixed Media, 60 x 72 in. © Amy Donaldson 2012

Believe, Pigment and Spray Paint on Canvas, 48 x 36 in. © Amy Donaldson 2012

In expressive abstract quality of her work, Amy’s paintings let us get lost in the play of color, light, and texture, each bouncing our eyes in excitement across the canvases.

In His Presence, Mixed Media, 72 x 60 in. © Amy Donaldson 2012

via Scratching the Surface: Amy Donaldson – artsy foragerartsy forager.