Bob Nonnemacher

Geometric Abstraction: A Confluence of Shapes

Previous Work

To create my earlier work, I employed two contrasting painting techniques—wet/dry and glossy/flat—on each side of a single canvas. I then deconstructed the canvas using pre-determined geometric cut patterns, sometimes into over 200 pieces. By flipping every other piece and reassembling the canvas, I revealed the contrasting techniques side by side. These pieces were glued to a new substrate, producing a final image with fresh optical energy, vibrant color palettes, and captivating patterns, offering exhilarating perspectives on geometric abstraction.

New Work

For my newer work, I aim to explore the convergence of shapes, creating a redefined and broader aesthetic. This includes innovations in shape, color, and new painting methods.

Complex Shapes: Cross, Octagon, Compass

Advancing the geometric aspect of my compositions, I have introduced the cross, octagon, and compass. These 8- and 12-sided shapes allow for more intricate cut-and-assemble patterns compared to the 4-sided rectangles and squares I previously used.

Textures

In earlier works, I blended colors visually using a random “splatter” technique. In my newer pieces, I blend colors deliberately with a paintbrush, creating gradations that add depth and textures previously absent.

Enhanced Color Palette

Each painting is meticulously planned to balance and harmonize shapes in terms of size, form, and color. Inspired by ombre effects, I incorporate color combinations along with gold, silver, iridescent black, and iridescent white which, combined with new textures, result in vibrant color palettes that infuse the work with kinetic energy.

Duality

My new works introduce control/surprise, foreground/background, and positive/negative space.

Large Sizes & Expanded Complexity

Larger canvases provide the space to expand the complexity of shape combinations, resulting in unusual and surprising compositions. When dissecting my paintings into individual components, I appreciate the multitude of shapes and find joy in each section as much as in the whole. I find fulfillment in the visual appeal generated by the interaction of simple shapes, individually or in combination, resulting in a captivating aesthetic that brings the painting to life and invites deeper viewer engagement.

Visit Bob Nonnemacher’s Gallery of Art here.