"Controlled Chaos"

Robert Petrick’s “Controlled Chaos” demonstrates superior line work throughout. This artwork - punctuated by heavy, uninterrupted black brushstrokes - simultaneously appears both graphic and painterly. This oil on canvas painting embraces curvilinear outlines which delineate areas across the picture plane. The artist notes that this is an abstract artwork inspired by experiencing life in New York City. While the weight of line varies throughout the composition, this strong black line work throughout the painting contrasts sharply with the soft washes of pastel oil paint and softer, more subtle, chalky white and blue lines which form a relationship with the heavier black outline. The contrast of hues and linear markings echoes the structures and surfaces found throughout the urban environment. Lighter jewel tones of paint throughout the artwork suggest diffuse light. The curvilinear style present throughout “Controlled Chaos” embraces soft curves, gradients and circular marks in direct dialogue with the 20th century painting movement of Abstraction, centered in New York City. This urban space continues to leave its indelible mark on painters, as is evidenced in this large abstract painting by Petrick.