J. Steven Manolis (b.1948- )
California Dreaming (Highway 1), 2017
Acrylic on canvas
84 x 144 inches
Not Framed
A painter cannot resist the views along California's north–south state highway 1 which runs along most of the Pacific coastline. J. Steven Manolis has painted a number of works inspired by the beauty of the ocean juxtaposed with cliffs.
Manolis' painting hero, and Father of Abstract Expressionism, Wassily Kandinsky was a concentric painter. He introduced the open loop, which to him symbolized both the universe and the human soul. Concentrics have a long human history symbolizing positive spirituality.
Manolis ascribes these other meanings to concentric circles: "1) Social Focus and 2) elimination of discrimination of all types- racial, religious, gender, sexual, cultural and all other stereotypes. When you consider that perhaps as many as 90% of all human killings that occur on earth come about from the hate related to discrimination."
Kenneth Noland is considered the premier American concentric painter. Interestingly, he utilized stencils and spray paint. Alternatively Manolis hand draws (with a compass) and hand paint his concentric circles. "I love the look and feel, and tiny imperfections created by the hand.”