Vertical Floating 2002

Constantin Blendea made this painting, Vertical Floating, with what looks like oil on canvas. I imagine him layering those floating shapes one on top of the other, building a composition that feels both planned and intuitive. The palette is simple: blues, whites, and grays. The paint application, though, is where the action is. See how Blendea uses these scratchy, directional strokes? The dark background feels alive with energy, pushing the floating forms forward. I wonder what he was thinking about as he built this image. Was he trying to capture a feeling of lightness, like these shapes were rising off the canvas? I feel a connection to other painters who are working with simple forms to try and evoke a sense of transcendence. We're all in conversation. That's how painting grows, you know? By building on the past while reaching for something new.