My current work in abstract oil painting is an exploration of color, form, and the delicate balance between control and spontaneity. Amongst the colorful portions and negative spaces in my work, the edges where pigment meets white oil paint is particularly significant. The textured brushstrokes are specifically placed to interact with the border of the pigment to highlight the sharp transition into the untouched white paint. Texture is present throughout the whole: in both the pigmented and white areas of the paintings. Viewing the pieces is dynamic - as the brushstrokes can be seen more clearly at an angle or as one moves around the piece. In my main application technique, the pigment itself flows with the brushstrokes within the main field of color: in some instances becoming defused while at other times becoming more defined. Although the interior may be soft, the color maintains it penetrating lines when meeting the negative space. In a second technique, I utilize the same materials, but change my application so that the pigment interacts with the oil paint in a very different way. Unlike the first technique, where the pigment accentuates the angular brushstrokes, the second creates spotted shapes that obscure the underlying gestures. Typically, minimalistic geometric shapes and negative space is maintained throughout both techniques to create consistency between the two approaches. Occasionally, a freeform approach is used for a more energetic or spontaneous result. From afar, each piece initially gives the impression of one singular color statement: upon closer inspection, some paintings maintain tints and shades of one color while others reveal that they are composed of multiple hues. While my work is in oil paint, it contains echos of my textile background: with the brushstrokes resembling woven designs, the pigment reminiscent of Ikat dyeing - and, in some instances, a color palate based on traditional shades such as indigo. ------- Anna Brady (b. 1982) is an abstract oil painter born and based in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BFA in Textile Design from the University of Georgia with emphasis on weaving, dyeing, screen printing, and Japanese surface techniques. In 2004, Anna studied traditional Japanese fiber art in Kyoto including Yuzen, Katazome, and Shibori. Anna began her professional journey as a colorist for Shaw Industries from 2006 to 2008. Concurrently, she built a successful career in photography (2006 - present). While her photography career has been mostly focused in Atlanta & New England, she has also worked internationally including countries in the Caribbean, Europe, and Japan. Currently, she is an emerging artist utilizing pigment and oil on canvas whose work explores color, texture, negative space, and the delicate balance between control and spontaneity. Textured brushstrokes throughout her paintings create an opportunity for the pigment’s edges to interact sharply with the stark white oil paint.