ABZTRKT Motorists caught behind Brian Billings' red Jeep at the stoplight usually spend a reflective moment interpreting the Arizona artist's vanity license plate."ABZTRKT" Some people get it quickly and completely; others leave bewildered, scratching their head long after the light has turned green. Brian gets the very same reaction when he showcases his abstract paintings. Some people quickly discover their own interpretation of the artist's visualization of a moment or message. Others linger a while longer, trying to piece together the brightly colored puzzle shapes that are suddenly circling their imagination. Brian is like his paintings-both colorful and original without being overbearing. In fact, again like his art, he invites active interpretation and participation. His art is passionate, not passive. Brian's paintings are all about the new and the now. As a young ma  n just starting to build his own family, still, there is something old school about Brian.Take his canvas, for example. He stretches it himself, also building the support frames because he believes in old-fashion quality. Art should be in the moment, but also should last a lifetime. He uses mostly bold and primary colors that attract attention in a soothing, familiar way. Brian likes his acrylic paintings to be a bit one the larger side, allowing his abstract shapes room to roam about so they can breathe and mingle and blend in colorful conversation. Don't look for a frame around the canvas-with rounded edges images appear to wander beyond the canvas. His largest painting-"too big to move," as Brian puts it, laughing as he frequently does at life's little absurdities. He playfully pokes fun in his paintings, as well. His messages often have a rebelious, ironic wit about them. They spur conversation and dialogue-and maybe even sneak in a chuckle like an inside joke. There should be an ah-ha moment. "What does the painting say to you?" Brian often asks, sincerely curious for the answer since it may be entirely different from his initial intention. Nothing is more open to interpretation than abstract art. And Brian gets a new insight into his own paintings with every comment. In a way, we're not supposed to see the same thing because while imaginations can be shared, they cannot be duplicated. "I'm always getting things in my head," Brian said, intuitively making the abstract connection between the everyday and the every day. "I see them differently when I close my eyes." Sometimes there is a single clue-like a tree or a sailboat-that provides a key to the mystery or maybe a shared focal point. Other times there is just the title, such as "Float On" or "Who's in Charge?" Just don't ask Brian what the painting's about and expect an answer. "I used to tell them but it just confuses them more," he said, laughing. Like a brief moment at a red light, before heading down the road, they should figure it out for themselves or at least let them interpret ABZTRKT in action a little longer. |