Finding Abstract Art in the Weirdest Places

     Last winter, my husband and I had to go shopping.  When I got out of our car in the parking lot, there was a big truck parked right next to us.  It had mud, road salt, and lots of drips running down the sides of the vehicle.  I looked closely and became intrigued by the fascinating patterns that I could see within what most people would call a mess and in dire need of cleaning. Before long, I was seeing trees, sand dunes, ski slopes... and wondering how I could paint or draw what was evolving before my very eyes. 

     There is a strong chance that my husband thought I was a little strange and probably thinking "Here she goes again", but really, I could actually see scenes in the salt and mud drippings.  I grabbed my phone and took some photos hoping the owner of the truck didn't catch me in the act.

     I have always been fascinated by patterns.  I think it started way back in childhood when I looked at a blade of grass under my new toy microscope.  I discovered that the edges of the grass were serrated like it was a knife.  I didn't know that.  Hmmm. That discovery got me checking out lots of things and, very likely, has contributed to the art I do today where I look for colours within my painting and then make patterns by drawing around the edges.

     Was there a message in all this for me?  Something like "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"?  Or "One man's trash is another man's treasure.  Or even the well-quoted "Every cloud has a silver lining"?

​     What do you see in this photo?  Perhaps this winter you'll find some Abstract Art in the weirdest places...

​     ~ Marlene 

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